Pyrazolopyridine kinase inhibitors

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinase. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders. The invention also provides processes for preparing compounds of the inventions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/298,649, filed Jan. 27, 2010 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/410,426, filed Nov. 4, 2010, both of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Protein kinases constitute a large family of structurally related enzymes that are responsible for the control of a variety of signal transduction processes within the cell (see Hardie, G. and Hanks, S. The Protein Kinase Facts Book, I and II, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif.: 1995).

In general, protein kinases mediate intracellular signaling by affecting a phosphoryl transfer from a nucleoside triphosphate to a protein acceptor that is involved in a signaling pathway. These phosphorylation events act as molecular on/off switches that can modulate or regulate the target protein biological function. These phosphorylation events are ultimately triggered in response to a variety of extracellular and other stimuli. Examples of such stimuli include environmental and chemical stress signals (e.g. shock, heat shock, ultraviolet radiation, bacterial endotoxin, and H₂O₂), cytokines (e.g. interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), and growth factors (e.g. granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)). An extracellular stimulus may affect one or more cellular responses related to cell growth, migration, differentiation, secretion of hormones, activation of transcription factors, muscle contraction, glucose metabolism, control of protein synthesis, survival and regulation of the cell cycle.

Kinases may be categorized into families by the substrates they phosphorylate (e.g. protein-tyrosine, protein-serine/threonine, lipids etc). Sequence motifs have been identified that generally correspond to each of these kinase families (See, for example, Hanks, S. K., Hunter, T., FASEB J. 1995, 9, 576-596; Knighton et al., Science 1991, 253, 407-414; Hiles et al, Cell 1992, 70, 419-429; Kunz et al, Cell 1993, 73, 585-596; Garcia-Bustos et al, EMBO J. 1994, 13, 2352-2361).

A serine/threonine kinase, protein kinase C-theta (PKC-theta), is a member of the novel, calcium independent PKC subfamily that is selectively expressed in T cells and skeletal muscle. Several lines of evidence indicate that PKC-theta has an essential role in T cell activation. Upon antigen stimulation of T cells, PKC-theta, but not other PKC isoforms, rapidly translocates from the cytoplasm to the site of cell contact between the T cell and antigen-presenting cell (APC), where it localizes with the T cell receptor (TCR) in a region termed the central supramolecular activation cluster (cSMAC) (Monks et al., 1997, Nature, 385: 83-86; Monks et al., 1998, Nature, 395: 82-86).

It has been reported that PKC-theta selectively activates the transcription factors AP-1 and NF-κB and integrates TCR and CD28 co-stimulatory signals leading to the activation of the CD28 response element (CD28RE) in the IL-2 promotor (Baier-Bitterlich et al., 1996, Mol. Cell. Biol., 16: 1842-1850; Coudronniere et al., 2000, PNAS, 97: 3394-3399). The specific role for PKC-theta in CD3/CD28 co-stimulation of T cells is highlighted in a study where expression of a kinase-dead PKC-theta mutant, or anti-sense PKC-theta dose-dependently inhibited CD3/CD28 co-stimulated NF-κB activation, but not TNF-alpha-stimulated NF-κB activation. This was not seen with other PKC isoforms (Lin et al., 2000, Mol. Cell. Biol., 20: 2933-2940). Recruitment of PKC-theta to the SMAC is reported to be mediated by its N-terminal regulatory domain and is necessary for T cell activation, as an over-expressed PKC-theta catalytic fragment did not translocate and was unable to activate NF-κB, whereas a PKC-theta catalytic domain-Lck membrane-binding domain chimera was able to reconstitute signaling (Bi et al., 2001, Nat. Immunol., 2:556-563).

Translocation of PKC-theta to the SMAC appears to be mediated by a largely PLC-gamma/DAG-independent mechanism, involving Vav and PI3-kinase (Villalba et al., 2002, JCB 157: 253-263), whilst activation of PKC-theta requires input from several signaling components including Lck, ZAP-70, SLP-76, PLC-gamma, Vav and PI3-kinase (Liu et al., 2000, JBC, 275: 3606-3609; Herndon et al., 2001, J. Immunol., 166: 5654-5664; Dienz et al., 2002, J. Immunol., 169: 365-372; Bauer et al., 2001 JBC., 276: 31627-31634). These biochemical studies in human T cells have gained credence from studies in PKC-theta knockout mice, which have confirmed a crucial role for this enzyme in T cell function. PKC-theta−/− mice are healthy and fertile, have a normally developed immune system, but exhibit profound defects in mature T cell activation (Sun et al., 200, Nature, 404:402-407). Proliferative responses to TCR and TCR/CD28 co-stimulation were inhibited (>90%) as were in vivo responses to antigen. In agreement with studies on human T cells, activation of the transcription factors AP-1 and NF-κB was abrogated, resulting in a severe deficit in IL-2 production and IL-2 R upregulation (Baier-Bitterlich et al., 1996, MBC, 16, 1842; Lin et al., 2000, MCB, 20, 2933; Courdonniere, 2000, 97, 3394). More recently, studies in PKC-theta-deficient mice have indicated a role for PKC-theta in the development of mouse models of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and irritable bowel disease (IBD) (Salek-Ardakani et al., 2006; Tan et al., 2006; Healy et al., 2006; Anderson et al., 2006). In these models, PKC-theta-deficient mice exhibited a marked reduction in disease severity that was associated with a profound defect in the development and effector function of autoreactive T cells.

In addition to its role in T cell activation, PKC-theta is reported to mediate the phorbol ester-triggered survival signal that protects T cells from Fas- and UV-induced apoptosis (Villalba et al., 2001, J. Immunol. 166: 5955-5963; Berttolotto et al., 2000, 275: 37246-37250). This pro-survival role is of interest because the human PKC-theta gene has been mapped to chromosome 10 (10p15), a region associated with mutations leading to T cell leukaemias and lymphomas (Erdel et al., 1995, Genomics 25: 295-297; Verma et al., 1987, J. Cancer Res. Clin. Oncol., 113: 192-196).

In vivo, the role for PKC-theta in immune responses to infection is dependent on the type of pathogen encountered. PKC-theta deficient mice elicit normal Th1 and cytotoxic T cell-mediated responses to several viral infections and the protozoan parasite, Leishmania major and effectively clear these infections (Marsland et al., 2004; Berg-Brown et al., 2004; Marsland et al., 2005; Giannoni et al., 2005). However, PKC-theta deficient mice are unable to wage normal Th2 T cell responses against the parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and certain allergens (Marsland et al., 2004; Salek-Ardakani et al., 2004) and are unable to clear Listeria monocytogenes infection (Sakowicz-Burkiewicz et al., 2008). Clearly in some circumstances, the requirement for PKC-theta in T cell activation can be bypassed and this is likely to involve the provision of additional signals to T cells, either from cells of the innate immune system, or directly from the pathogen in the form of pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) (Marsland et al., 2007).

More recently, studies in PKC-theta-deficient mice have indicated a role for PKC-theta in the development of mouse models of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. In all cases where examined, PKC-theta-deficient mice exhibited a marked reduction in disease severity that was associated with a profound defect in the development of a newly discovered class of T cells, Th17 cells (Salek-Ardakani et al., 2006; Tan et al., 2006; Healy et al., 2006; Anderson et al., 2006; Nagahama et al., 2008). PKC-theta therefore appears to be essential for the development of pathogenic auto-reactive Th17 cells in the context of autoimmunity. These observations support the notion that targeting PKC-theta will provide a way to target autoimmune T cell responses, leaving many T cell responses (e.g., to viral infections) intact.

In addition to its role in T cell activation, PKC-theta mediates the phorbol ester-triggered survival signal that protects T cells from Fas- and UV-induced apoptosis (Villalba et al., 2001, J. Immunol. 166: 5955-5963; Berttolotto et al., 2000, 275: 37246-37250). This pro-survival role is of interest because the human PKC-theta gene has been mapped to chromosome 10 (10p15), a region associated with mutations leading to T cell leukaemias and lymphomas (Erdel et al., 1995, Genomics 25: 295-297; Verma et al., 1987, J. Cancer Res. Clin. Oncol., 113: 192-196).

Together, these data indicate that PKC-theta is an attractive target for therapeutic intervention in inflammatory disorders, immune disorders, lymphomas and T cell leukaemias.

Accordingly, there is a great need to develop compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinases. In particular, it would be desirable to develop compounds that are useful as inhibitors of PKC-theta, particularly given the inadequate treatments currently available for the majority of the disorders implicated in their activation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, is an XRD of compound 9, as described herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides, in general, compounds that are useful as kinase inhibitors. In one embodiment the compounds of the present invention are represented by structural formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

T is —NH— or absent.

Each J_(c1) and J_(c2) is independently —CN, —F, —Cl, —OR, —CH₂OR, or —CF₃.

Each U₁, U₂, and U₃ is independently —H, Z, or J_(b) wherein no more than one of U₁, U₂, and U₃ is —H; or two of U₁, U₂, and U₃ join together to form a C1-C6 cyloalkyl ring having 0-1 heteroatoms independently substituted with one or more J_(c).

Z is Y2-Q2.

Y2 is absent or C1-6 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(d).

Q2 is absent or C3-C8 cyloalkyl having 0-1 heteroatoms optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(c), wherein Y2 and Q2 are not both absent (when U₁, U₂, and U₃ is Z).

Each J_(b) is independently —F, —OR, —CN, —CF₃, —N(R)₂, —C(O)N(R)₂, C1-6 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(a).

Each J_(a) is independently —F, —OR, —N(R)₂, or —C(O)N(R)₂.

Each J_(d) is independently —OR, —CN, —C(O)N(R)₂, —N(R)₂ or F.

Each J_(c) is independently C1-C6 alkyl, —OR, —N(R)₂ CF₃, or F.

Each R is —H or C1-C6 alkyl.

Wherein there is a chiral center at the carbon indicated by *.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a method of treating or preventing protein kinase-mediated condition in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or composition of the present invention.

In one embodiment the present invention is the manufacture of a compound, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or composition of the present invention for use in treating or preventing a protein kinase-mediated condition in a subject.

In another embodiment, the compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and compositions of the present invention are also useful for the study of kinases in biological and pathological phenomena; the study of intracellular signal transduction pathways mediated by such kinases; and the comparative evaluation of new kinase inhibitors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and compositions (such as, pharmaceutical compositions) useful as protein kinase inhibitors.

In one embodiment, the compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and compositions of the present invention are effective as inhibitors of PKCtheta.

Compounds of this invention include those described generally herein, and are further illustrated by the classes, subclasses, and species disclosed herein. As used herein, the definitions defined herein shall apply unless otherwise indicated. For purposes of this invention, the chemical elements are identified in accordance with the Periodic Table of the Elements, CAS version, Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 75^(th) Ed. Additionally, general principles of organic chemistry are described in “Organic Chemistry”, Thomas Sorrell, University Science Books, Sausalito: 1999, and “March's Advanced Organic Chemistry”, 5^(th) Ed., Ed.: Smith, M. B. and March, J., John Wiley & Sons, New York: 2001, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In one embodiment the compounds of the present invention are represented by structural formula I as described above.

In another embodiment, for compounds of formula I, U₁ is Z and U₃ is J_(b) and the remainder of the variables are as described above.

In another embodiment, for compounds of formula I, U₁ and U₂ are Z and U₃ is J_(b) and the remainder of the variables are as described above.

In another embodiment, for compounds of formula I, Y2 is C1-C3 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(d). Q2 is absent or C3-C6 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(c). Each J_(d) is independently —OR, or F and the remainder of the variables are as described above.

In another embodiment, for compounds of formula I, J_(b) is —OH or —NH₂ and the remainder of the variables are as described above.

In another embodiment, for compounds of formula I, J_(b) is —OH and the remainder of the variables are as described above.

In another embodiment, for compounds of formula I, each J_(c1) and J_(c2) is independently —CF₃, —CN, —F, or —ClB and the remainder of the variables are as described above.

In another embodiment, for compounds of formula I, each J_(c1) and J_(c2) is independently —F, or —Cl and the remainder of the variables are as described above.

In another embodiment, for compounds of formula I, each J_(c1) and J_(c2) is —F and the remainder of the variables are as described above.

In another embodiment, for compounds of formula I, J_(c1) is F and J_(c2) is Cl; or J_(c1) is Cl and J_(c2) is F.

In certain embodiments the compound of formula I is not:

In one embodiment the compounds of the present invention are represented by structural formula II

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

T is —CH₂—, —CH(J_(b))—, —C(J_(b))₂-, —NH— or —N(J_(b))—.

t is 0, 1, or 2.

w is 0 or 1.

Each is independently CN, F, Cl, —OR, —CH₂OR, or CF₃.

U is Z or J_(b).

Z is Y2-Q2.

Y2 is absent or C1-6 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(d).

Q2 is absent or C3-C8 cyloalkyl having 0-1 heteroatoms optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(c); wherein Y2 and Q2 are not both absent.

Each J_(b) is independently —F, —OR, —CN, —CF₃, —N(R)₂, —C(O)N(R)₂, C1-6 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(a).

Each J_(a) is independently —F, —OR, —N(R)₂, or —C(O)N(R)₂.

Each J_(d) is independently —OR, —CN, —C(O)N(R)₂, —N(R)₂ or F.

Each J_(c) is independently —OR, CF₃, —N(R)₂ or F.

Each R is —H or C1-C6 alkyl.

With the proviso that the compound is not:

In one embodiment the compound of structural formula II has the following structural formula:

As described herein, a specified number range of atoms includes any integer therein. For example, a group having from 1-4 atoms could have 1, 2, 3, or 4 atoms.

As used here the terms “absent” and “a bond” can be used interchangeably to mean the variable doe's not exits in that embodiment, that is the variable does not represent an atom or groups of atoms.

The term “stable”, as used herein, refers to compounds that are not substantially altered when subjected to conditions to allow for their production, detection, recovery, storage, purification, and use for one or more of the purposes disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a stable compound or chemically feasible compound is one that is not substantially altered when kept at a temperature of 40° C. or less, in the absence of moisture or other chemically reactive conditions, for at least a week.

The term “aliphatic” or “aliphatic group”, as used herein, means a straight-chain (i.e., unbranched), or branched, hydrocarbon chain that is completely saturated or that contains one or more units of unsaturation but is non-aromatic.

Unless otherwise specified, aliphatic groups contain 1-20 aliphatic carbon atoms. In some embodiments, aliphatic groups contain 1-10 aliphatic carbon atoms. In other embodiments, aliphatic groups contain 1-8 aliphatic carbon atoms. In still other embodiments, aliphatic groups contain 1-6 aliphatic carbon atoms, and in yet other embodiments aliphatic groups contain 1-4 aliphatic carbon atoms. Aliphatic groups may be linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl groups. Specific examples include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-propyl, sec-butyl, vinyl, n-butanol, thinly, and tert-butyl.

The term “alkyl” as used herein means a saturated straight or branched chain hydrocarbon. The term “alkenyl” as used herein means a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon comprising one or more double bonds. The term “alkynyl” as used herein means a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon comprising one or more triple bonds.

The term “cycloaliphatic” (or “carbocyclic” or “carbocyclic” or “carbocyclic”) refers to a non-aromatic monocyclic carbon containing ring which can be saturated or contain one or more units of unsaturation, having three to fourteen ring carbon atoms. The term includes polycyclic fused, Spiro or bridged carbocyclic ring systems. The term also includes polycyclic ring systems in which the carbocyclic ring can be fused to one or more non-aromatic carbocyclic or heterocyclic rings or one or more aromatic rings or combination thereof, wherein the radical or point of attachment is on the carbocyclic ring. Fused bicyclic ring systems comprise two rings which share two adjoining ring atoms, bridged bicyclic group comprise two rings which share three or four adjacent ring atoms, spiro bicyclic ring systems share one ring atom. Examples of cycloaliphatic groups include, but are not limited to, cycloalkyl and cycloalkenyl groups. Specific examples include, but are not limited to, cyclohexyl, cyclopropentyl, cyclopropyl and cyclobutyl.

The term “heterocycle” (or “heterocyclyl”, or “heterocyclic”) as used herein means refers to a non-aromatic monocyclic ring which can be saturated or contain one or more units of unsaturation, having three to fourteen ring atoms in which one or more ring carbons is replaced by a heteroatom such as, N, S, or O. The term includes polycyclic fused, spiro or bridged heterocyclic ring systems. The term also includes polycyclic ring systems in which the heterocyclic ring can be fused to one or more non-aromatic carbocyclic or heterocyclic rings or one or more aromatic rings or combination thereof, wherein the radical or point of attachment is on the heterocyclic ring. Examples of heterocycles include, but are not limited to, piperidinyl, piperizinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolidinyl, azepanyl, diazepanyl, triazepanyl, azocanyl, diazocanyl, triazocanyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, thiazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, oxazocanyl, oxazepanyl, thiazepanyl, thiazocanyl, benzimidazolonyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothiophenyl, tetrahydrothiophenyl, morpholino, including, for example, 3-morpholino, 4-morpholino, 2-thiomorpholino, 3-thiomorpholino, 4-thiomorpholino, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 2-pyrrolidinyl, 3-pyrrolidinyl, 1-piperazinyl, 2-piperazinyl, 3-piperazinyl, 1-pyrazolinyl, 3-pyrazolinyl, 4-pyrazolinyl, 5-pyrazolinyl, 1-piperidinyl, 2-piperidinyl, 3-piperidinyl, 4-piperidinyl, 2-thiazolidinyl, 3-thiazolidinyl, 4-thiazolidinyl, 1-imidazolidinyl, 2-imidazolidinyl, 4-imidazolidinyl, 5-imidazolidinyl, indolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, benzothiolanyl, benzodithianyl, dihydro-benzimidazol-2-onyl, and 1,3-dihydro-imidazol-2-onyl, azabicyclopentyl, azabicyclohexyl, azabicycloheptyl, azabicyclooctyl, azabicyclononyl, azabicyclodecyl, diazabicyclohexyl, diazabicycloheptyl, dihydroindazolyl, dihydrobenzimidazolyl, tetrahydropyridyl, dihydropyridyl, tetrahydropyrazinyl, dihydropyrazinyl, tetrahydropyrimidinyl, dihydropyrimidinyl, dihydropyrrolyl, dihydropyrazolyl, dihydroimidazolyl, octahydropyrrolopyrazyl, octahydropyrrolopyridyl, octahydropyridopyrazyl, octahydropyridopyridyl, diazabicyclooctyl, diazabicyclononyl, and diazabicyclodecyl.

As used herein, unless stated otherwise, bicyclic rings can be fused, spiro and bridged.

The term “heteroatom” means one or more of oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus, or silicon (including, any oxidized form of nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, or silicon; the quaternized form of any basic nitrogen or; a substitutable nitrogen of a heterocyclic ring, for example N (as in 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrolyl), NH (as in pyrrolidinyl) or NR⁺ (as in N-substituted pyrrolidinyl)).

The term “unsaturated”, as used herein, means that a moiety has one or more units of unsaturation.

The term “alkoxy”, or “thioalkyl”, as used herein, refers to an alkyl group, as previously defined, attached to the molecule through an oxygen (“alkoxy” e.g., —O-alkyl) or sulfur (“thioalkyl” e.g., —S-alkyl) atom.

The terms “haloalkyl”, “haloalkenyl”, “halo aliphatic”, and “haloalkoxy” (or “aminoalkyl”, “hydroxyalkyl” etc.,) mean alkyl, alkenyl or alkoxy, as the case may be, substituted with one or more halogen atoms. This term includes perfluorinated alkyl groups, such as —CF₃ and —CF₂CF₃.

The terms “halogen”, “halo”, and “hal” mean F, Cl, Br, or I. The term halo aliphatic and —O(halo aliphatic) include, mono- di- and tri- halo substituted aliphatic groups.

The term “aryl” used alone or as part of a larger moiety as in “a alkyl”, “aralkoxy”, “aryloxyalkyl”, or “heteroaryl” refers to carbocyclic and or heterocyclic aromatic ring systems. The term “aryl” may be used interchangeably with the term “aryl ring”.

Carbocyclic aromatic ring groups have only carbon ring atoms (typically six to fourteen) and include monocyclic aromatic rings such as phenyl and fused polycyclic aromatic ring systems in which two or more carbocyclic aromatic rings are fused to one another. Examples include 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 1-anthracyl and 2-anthracyl. Also included within the scope of the term “carbocyclic aromatic ring”, as it is used herein, is a group in which an aromatic ring is fused to one or more non-aromatic rings (carbocyclic or heterocyclic), such as in an indanyl, phthalimidyl, naphthimidyl, phenanthridinyl, or tetrahydronaphthyl, where the radical or point of attachment is on the aromatic ring.

The term “heteroaryl”, “heteroaromatic”, “heteroaryl ring”, “heteroaryl group” and “heteroaromatic group”, used alone or as part of a larger moiety as in “heteroaralkyl” or “heteroarylalkoxy”, refers to heteroaromatic ring groups having five to fourteen members, including monocyclic heteroaromatic rings and polycyclic aromatic rings in which a monocyclic aromatic ring is fused to one or more other aromatic ring. Heteroaryl groups have one or more ring heteroatoms. Also included within the scope of the term “heteroaryl”, as it is used herein, is a group in which an aromatic ring is fused to one or more non-aromatic rings (carbocyclic or heterocyclic), where the radical or point of attachment is on the aromatic ring. Bicyclic 6,5 heteroaromatic ring, as used herein, for example, is a six membered heteroaromatic ring fused to a second five membered ring, wherein the radical or point of attachment is on the six membered ring. Examples of heteroaryl groups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, imidazolyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl or thiadiazolyl including, for example, 2-furanyl, 3-furanyl, N-imidazolyl, 2-imidazolyl, 4-imidazolyl, 5-imidazolyl, 3-isoxazolyl, 4-isoxazolyl, 5-isoxazolyl, 2-oxadiazolyl, 5-oxadiazolyl, 2-oxazolyl, 4-oxazolyl, 5-oxazolyl, 3-pyrazolyl, 4-pyrazolyl, 1-pyrrolyl, 2-pyrrolyl, 3-pyrrolyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, 2-pyrimidinyl, 4-pyrimidinyl, 5-pyrimidinyl, 3-pyridazinyl, 2-thiazolyl, 4-thiazolyl, 5-thiazolyl, 2-triazolyl, 5-triazolyl, tetrazolyl, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, carbazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothienyl, benzofuranyl, indolyl, benzotriazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzimidazolyl, isoquinolinyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, acridinyl, benzisoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,5-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl, 1,2,3-thiadiazolyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,5-thiadiazolyl, purinyl, pyrazinyl, 1,3,5-triazinyl, quinolinyl (e.g., 2-quinolinyl, 3-quinolinyl, 4-quinolinyl), and isoquinolinyl (e.g., 1-isoquinolinyl, 3-isoquinolinyl, or 4-isoquinolinyl).

The term “protecting group” and “protective group” as used herein, are interchangeable and refer to an agent used to temporarily block one or more desired functional groups in a compound with multiple reactive sites. In certain embodiments, a protecting group has one or more, or preferably all, of the following characteristics: a) is added selectively to a functional group in good yield to give a protected substrate that is b) stable to reactions occurring at one or more of the other reactive sites; and c) is selectively removable in good yield by reagents that do not attack the regenerated, deprotected functional group. As would be understood by one skilled in the art, in some cases, the reagents do not attack other reactive groups in the compound. In other cases, the reagents may also react with other reactive groups in the compound. Examples of protecting groups are detailed in Greene, T. W., Wuts, P. G in “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis”, Third Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York: 1999 (and other editions of the book), the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The term “nitrogen protecting group”, as used herein, refers to an agent used to temporarily block one or more desired nitrogen reactive sites in a multifunctional compound. Preferred nitrogen protecting groups also possess the characteristics exemplified for a protecting group above, and certain exemplary nitrogen protecting groups are also detailed in Chapter 7 in Greene, T. W., Wuts, P. G in “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis”, Third Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York: 1999, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In some embodiments, where indicated a methylene unit of an aliphatic chain is optionally replaced with another atom or group. Examples of such atoms or groups include, but are not limited to, G which includes, —N(R′)—, —O—, —C(O)—, —C(═N—CN)—, —C(═NR′)— —C(═NOR′)—, —S—, —S(O)—, and —S(O)₂—. These atoms or groups can be combined to form larger groups. Examples of such larger groups include, but are not limited to, —OC(O)—, —C(O)CO—, —CO₂—, —C(O)NR′″—, —C(═N—CN), —N(R′)C(O)—, —N(R′)C(O)O—, —S(O)₂N(R′)—, —N(R′)SO₂—, —N(R′)C(O)N(R′)—, —OC(O)N(R′)—, and —N(R′)SO₂N(R′)—, wherein R′ is defined herein.

Only those replacement and combinations of groups that result in a stable structure are contemplated. Optional replacements can occur both within the chain and/or at either end of the chain; i.e. both at the point of attachment and/or also at the terminal end. Two optional replacements can also be adjacent to each other within a chain so long as it results in a chemically stable compound.

In some embodiments he optional replacements can also completely replace all of the carbon atoms in a chain. For example, a C₃ aliphatic can be optionally replaced by —N(R′)—, —C(O)—, and —N(R′)— to form —N(R′)C(O)N(R′)— (a urea), or a C₁ aliphatic can be optionally be replaced by, for example, —O—, NH— etc. In certain instances of these embodiments the chain is a linker.

Unless otherwise indicated, if the replacement occurs at the terminal end, the replacement atom is bound to an H on the terminal end. For example, if —CH₂CH₂CH₃ were optionally replaced with —O—, the resulting compound could be —OCH₂CH₃, —CH₂OCH₃, or —CH₂CH₂OH, or if —CH₂CH₃ were optionally replaced with —O—, the resulting compound could be —OCH₃, or —CH₂CH₂OH, or if —CH₂CH₃ were optionally replaced with —C(O)—, the resulting compound could be —C(O)CH₃, or —CH₂C(O)H.

In an alternative embodiment where specified herein, aliphatic chains in which up to three (0-3) methylene groups are optionally replaced by G′, wherein G′ is —N(R′)—, —O—, —C(O)—, or —S(O)_(P)—, (wherein R′ and p are as defined herein) require at least one unreplaced methylene group (—CH(substituent)- or —CH₂—) in the chain. For example, the methylene group in a C₁ aliphatic cannot be replaced by, for example, —OH, —NH₂ etc., to give —OH and —NH₂ as the substituent without any methylene group in the chain, or ii) two methylene groups in a C₂ aliphatic groups cannot be replaced by —C(O)— and —O— to give —C(O)OH. In certain instances of these alternative embodiment the chain is not a linker but rather a substituent only joined to the rest of the molecule in one place. These aliphatic groups are further substituted as defined herein.

Unless otherwise indicated, structures depicted herein are also meant to include all isomeric (e.g., enantiomeric, diastereomeric, geometric, conformational, and rotational) forms of the structure. For example, the (R) and (S) configurations for each asymmetric center, (Z) and (E) double bond isomers, and (Z) and (E) conformational isomers are included in this invention. The use of (R) and (S) in the structures herein represents stereochemistry and is distinct from the atom sulphur S or the variable R in the description of the variables. As would be understood to one skilled in the art, a substituent can freely rotate around any rotatable bonds. For example, a substituent drawn as

also represents

Therefore, single stereochemical isomers as well as enantiomeric, diastereomeric, geometric, conformational, and rotational mixtures of the present compounds are within the scope of the invention.

The preferred conformation of the compounds of the invention is (S) where indicated in the piperazine ring and (R) on the alpha carbon.

The stereochemistry of the instant molecules can be determined using X-ray diffraction, using techniques know to those of skill in the art. In an alternative embodiment, without wishing to be bound by theory, the stereochemistry can be predicted based on the PKCtheta potency in the assays described herein.

Unless otherwise indicated, all tautomeric forms of the compounds of the invention are within the scope of the invention.

Additionally, unless otherwise indicated, structures depicted herein are also meant to include compounds that differ only in the presence of one or more isotopically enriched atoms. For example, compounds having the present structures except for the replacement of hydrogen by deuterium or tritium, or the replacement of a carbon by a ¹³C- or ¹⁴C-enriched carbon are within the scope of this invention. Such compounds are useful, for example, as analytical tools or probes in biological assays.

As described herein, where indicated compounds of the invention may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents, such as are illustrated generally herein, or as exemplified by particular classes, subclasses, and species of the invention. It will be appreciated that the phrase “optionally substituted” is used interchangeably with the phrase “substituted or unsubstituted.” In general, the term “substituted”, whether preceded by the term “optionally” or not, refers to the replacement of hydrogen radicals in a given structure with the radical of a specified substituent. Unless otherwise indicated, an optionally substituted group may have a substituent at each substitutable position of the group, and when more than one position in any given structure may be substituted with more than one substituent selected from a specified group, the substituent may be either the same or different at every position.

Only those choices and combinations of substituents that result in a stable structure are contemplated. Such choices and combinations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art and may be determined without undue experimentation.

The term “ring atom” is an atom such as C, N, O or S that is in the ring of an aromatic group, cycloalkyl group or non-aromatic heterocyclic ring.

A “substitutable ring atom” in an aromatic or non-aromatic ring group is a ring carbon or nitrogen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom. The hydrogen can be optionally replaced with a suitable substituent group. Thus, the term “substitutable ring atom” does not include ring nitrogen or carbon atoms which are shared when two rings are fused. In addition, “substitutable ring atom” does not include ring carbon or nitrogen atoms when the structure depicts that they are already attached to a moiety other than hydrogen.

An optionally substituted aryl group as defined herein may contain one or more substitutable ring atoms, which may be bonded to a suitable substituent. Examples of suitable substituents on a substitutable ring carbon atom of an aryl group includes R@. R@ is —Ra, —Br, —Cl, —I, —F, —ORa, —SRa, —O—CORa, —CORa, —CSRa, —CN, —NO₂, —NCS, —SO₃H, —N(RaRb), —COORa, —NRcNRcCORa, —NRcNRcCO₂Ra, —CHO, —CON(RaRb), —OC(O)N(RaRb), —CSN(RaRb), —NRcCORa, —NRcCOORa, —NRcCSRa, —NRcCON(RaRb), —NRcNRcC(O)N(RaRb), —NRcCSN(RaRb), —C(═NRc)—N(RaRb), —C(═S)N(RaRb), —NRd— C(═NRc)—N(RaRb), —NRcNRaRb, —S(O)_(p)NRaRb, —NRcSO₂N(RaRb), —NRcS(O)_(p)Ra, —S(O)_(p)Ra, —OS(O)_(p)NRaRb or —OS(O)_(p)Ra; wherein p is 1 or 2.

Ra-Rd are each independently —H, an aliphatic group, aromatic group, non-aromatic carbocyclic or heterocyclic group or —N(RaRb), taken together, form a non-aromatic heterocyclic group. The aliphatic, aromatic and non-aromatic heterocyclic group represented by Ra-Rd and the non-aromatic heterocyclic group represented by —N(RaRb) are each optionally and independently substituted with one or more groups represented by R^(#). Preferably Ra-Rd are unsubstituted.

R^(#) is halogen, R⁺, —OR⁺, —SR⁺, —NO₂, —CN, —N(R⁺)₂, —COR⁺, —COOR⁺, —NHCO₂R⁺, —NHC(O)R⁺, —NHNHC(O)R⁺, —NHC(O)N(R⁺)₂, —NHNHC(O)N(R⁺)₂, —NHNHCO₂R⁺, —C(O)N(R⁺)₂, —OC(O)R⁺, —OC(O)N(R⁺)₂, —S(O)₂R⁺, —SO₂N(R⁺)₂, —S(O)R⁺, —NHSO₂N(R)₂, —NHSO₂R⁺, —C(═S)N(R⁺)₂, or —C(═NH)—N(R⁺)₂.

R⁺ is —H, a C1-C4 alkyl group, a monocyclic aryl group, a non-aromatic carbocyclic or heterocyclic group each optionally substituted with alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, halogen, —CN, —NO₂, amine, alkylamine or dialkylamine. Preferably R+ is unsubstituted.

An optionally substituted aliphatic or a non-aromatic heterocyclic or carbocyclic group as used herein may contain one or more substituents. Examples of suitable substituents for an aliphatic group or a ring carbon of a non-aromatic heterocyclic group is R″. R″ includes those substituents listed above for R@ and ═O, ═S, ═NNHR**, ═NN(R**)₂, ═NNHC(O)R**, ═NNHCO2 (alkyl), ═NNHSO2 (alkyl), ═NR**, Spiro cycloalkyl group or fused cycloalkyl group. Each R** is independently selected from hydrogen, an unsubstituted alkyl group or a substituted alkyl group. Examples of substituents on the alkyl group represented by R** include amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, aminocarbonyl, halogen, alkyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, dialkylaminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyloxy, dialkylaminocarbonyloxy, alkoxy, nitro, cyano, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy, haloalkoxy, or haloalkyl.

When a heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, or heteroaralkyl group contains a nitrogen atom, it may be substituted or unsubstituted. When a nitrogen atom in the aromatic ring of a heteroaryl group has a substituent the nitrogen may be a quaternary nitrogen.

A preferred position for substitution of a non-aromatic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group is the nitrogen ring atom. Suitable substituents on the nitrogen of a non-aromatic heterocyclic group or heteroaryl group include —R̂, —N(R̂)₂, C(O)R̂, CO₂R̂, —C(O)C(O)R̂, —SO₂R̂, SO₂N(R̂)₂, C(═S)N(R̂)₂, C(═NH)—N(R̂)₂, and —NR̂SO₂R̂; wherein R̂ is hydrogen, an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, aryl, substituted aryl, heterocyclic or carbocyclic ring or a substituted heterocyclic or carbocyclic ring. Examples of substituents on the group represented by R̂ include alkyl, haloalkoxy, haloalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, sulfonyl, alkylsulfonyl, halogen, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, aryl, carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, oxo, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, dialkylaminocarbonyloxy, alkoxy, carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, or alkylcarbonyl. Preferably R̂ is not substituted.

Non-aromatic nitrogen containing heterocyclic rings that are substituted on a ring nitrogen and attached to the remainder of the molecule at a ring carbon atom are said to be N substituted. For example, an N alkyl piperidinyl group is attached to the remainder of the molecule at the two, three or four position of the piperidinyl ring and substituted at the ring nitrogen with an alkyl group. Non-aromatic nitrogen containing heterocyclic rings such as pyrazinyl that are substituted on a ring nitrogen and attached to the remainder of the molecule at a second ring nitrogen atom are said to be N′ substituted-N-heterocycles. For example, an N′acyl N-pyrazinyl group is attached to the remainder of the molecule at one ring nitrogen atom and substituted at the second ring nitrogen atom with an acyl group.

As used herein an optionally substituted aralkyl can be substituted on both the alkyl and the aryl portion. Unless otherwise indicated as used herein optionally substituted aralkyl is optionally substituted on the aryl portion.

The compounds of the invention are defined herein by their chemical structures and/or chemical names. Where a compound is referred to by both a chemical structure and a chemical name, and the chemical structure and chemical name conflict, the chemical structure is determinative of the compound's identity.

The compounds of this invention can exist in free form for treatment, or where appropriate, as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to salts of a compound which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animals without undue side effects, such as, toxicity, irritation, allergic response and the like, and are commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are well known in the art. For example, S. M. Berge et al., describe pharmaceutically acceptable salts in detail in J. Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1977, 66, 1-19, incorporated herein by reference. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention include those derived from suitable inorganic and organic acids and bases. These salts can be prepared in situ during the final isolation and purification of the compounds. Acid addition salts can be prepared by 1) reacting the purified compound in its free-based form with a suitable organic or inorganic acid and 2) isolating the salt thus formed.

Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable, nontoxic acid addition salts are salts of an amino group formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid and perchloric acid or with organic acids such as acetic acid, oxalic acid, maleic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, succinic acid or malonic acid or by using other methods used in the art such as ion exchange. Other pharmaceutically acceptable salts include adipate, alginate, ascorbate, aspartate, benzenesulfonate, benzoate, bisulfate, borate, butyrate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate, citrate, cyclopentanepropionate, digluconate, dodecylsulfate, ethanesulfonate, formate, fumarate, glucoheptonate, glycerophosphate, glycolate, gluconate, glycolate, hemisulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, 2-hydroxy-ethanesulfonate, lactobionate, lactate, laurate, lauryl sulfate, malate, maleate, malonate, methanesulfonate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, nitrate, oleate, oxalate, palmitate, palmoate, pectinate, persulfate, 3-phenylpropionate, phosphate, picrate, pivalate, propionate, salicylate, stearate, succinate, sulfate, tartrate, thiocyanate, p-toluenesulfonate, undecanoate, valerate salts, and the like.

Base addition salts can be prepared by 1) reacting the purified compound in its acid form with a suitable organic or inorganic base and 2) isolating the salt thus formed. Salts derived from appropriate bases include alkali metal (e.g., sodium, lithium, and potassium), alkaline earth metal (e.g., magnesium and calcium), ammonium and N⁺ (C₁₋₄ alkyl)₄ salts. This invention also envisions the quaternization of any basic nitrogen-containing groups of the compounds disclosed herein. Water or oil-soluble or dispersible products may be obtained by such quaternization.

Further pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, when appropriate, nontoxic ammonium, quaternary ammonium, and amine cations formed using counterions such as halide, hydroxide, carboxylate, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, lower alkyl sulfonate and aryl sulfonate. Other acids and bases, while not in themselves pharmaceutically acceptable, may be employed in the preparation of salts useful as intermediates in obtaining the compounds of the invention and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts.

It should be understood that this invention includes mixtures/combinations of different pharmaceutically acceptable salts and also mixtures/combinations of compounds in free form and pharmaceutically acceptable salts.

In addition to the compounds of this invention, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates (e.g., hydrates) and clathrates of the compounds of this invention may also be employed in compositions to treat or prevent the herein identified disorders.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable solvate,” is a solvate formed from the association of one or more pharmaceutically acceptable solvent molecules to one of the compounds the invention. The term solvate includes hydrates (e.g., hemihydrate, monohydrate, dihydrate, trihydrate, tetrahydrate, and the like).

As used herein, the term “hydrate” means a compound of the present invention or a salt thereof, that further includes a stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric amount of water bound by non-covalent intermolecular forces.

As used herein, the term “clathrate” means a compound of the present invention or a salt thereof in the form of a crystal lattice that contains spaces (e.g., channels) that have a guest molecule (e.g., a solvent or water) trapped within.

In addition to the compounds of this invention, pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives or prodrugs, and esters, of the compounds of this invention may also be employed in compositions to treat or prevent the herein identified disorders.

As used herein and unless otherwise indicated, the term “prodrug” means a derivative of a compound that can hydrolyze, oxidize, or otherwise react under biological conditions (in vitro or in vivo) to provide a compound of this invention. Prodrugs may become active upon such reaction under biological conditions, or they may have activity in their unreacted forms. Examples of prodrugs contemplated in this invention include, but are not limited to, analogs or derivatives of compounds of the invention that comprise biohydrolyzable moieties such as biohydrolyzable amides, biohydrolyzable esters, biohydrolyzable carbamates, biohydrolyzable carbonates, biohydrolyzable ureides, and biohydrolyzable phosphate analogues. Other examples of prodrugs include derivatives of compounds of the invention that comprise —NO, —NO2, —ONO, or —ONO2 moieties. Prodrugs can typically be prepared using well-known methods, such as those described by BURGER'S MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY AND DRUG DISCOVERY (1995) 172-178, 949-982 (Manfred E. Wolff ed., 5th ed).

A “pharmaceutically acceptable derivative” is an adduct or derivative which, upon administration to a patient in need, is capable of providing, directly or indirectly, a compound as otherwise described herein, or a metabolite or residue thereof. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives include, but are not limited to, esters and salts of such esters.

A “pharmaceutically acceptable derivative or prodrug” includes any pharmaceutically acceptable ester, salt of an ester or other derivative or salt thereof of a compound, of this invention which, upon administration to a recipient, is capable of providing, either directly or indirectly, a compound of this invention or an inhibitory active metabolite or residue thereof. Particularly favoured derivatives or prodrugs are those that increase the bioavailability of the compounds of this invention when such compounds are administered to a patient (e.g., by allowing an orally administered compound to be more readily absorbed into the blood) or which enhance delivery of the parent compound to a biological compartment (e.g., the brain or lymphatic system) relative to the parent species.

Pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs of the compounds of this invention include, without limitation, esters, amino acid esters, phosphate esters, metal salts and sulfonate esters.

As used herein, the phrase “side effects” encompasses unwanted and adverse effects of a therapy (e.g., a prophylactic or therapeutic agent). Side effects are always unwanted, but unwanted effects are not necessarily adverse. An adverse effect from a therapy (e.g., prophylactic or therapeutic agent) might be harmful or uncomfortable or risky. Side effects include, but are not limited to fever, chills, lethargy, gastrointestinal toxicities (including gastric and intestinal ulcerations and erosions), nausea, vomiting, neurotoxicities, nephrotoxicities, renal toxicities (including such conditions as papillary necrosis and chronic interstitial nephritis), hepatic toxicities (including elevated serum liver enzyme levels), myelotoxicities (including leukopenia, myelosuppression, thrombocytopenia and anemia), dry mouth, metallic taste, prolongation of gestation, weakness, somnolence, pain (including muscle pain, bone pain and headache), hair loss, asthenia, dizziness, extra-pyramidal symptoms, akathisia, cardiovascular disturbances and sexual dysfunction.

In one embodiment the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent, adjuvant or vehicle. In one embodiment the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of compound of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent, adjuvant or vehicle. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, for example, pharmaceutical diluents, excipients or carriers suitably selected with respect to the intended form of administration, and consistent with conventional pharmaceutical practices.

A pharmaceutically acceptable carrier may contain inert ingredients which do not unduly inhibit the biological activity of the compounds. The pharmaceutically acceptable carriers should be biocompatible, e.g., non-toxic, non-inflammatory, non-immunogenic or devoid of other undesired reactions or side-effects upon the administration to a subject. Standard pharmaceutical formulation techniques can be employed.

The pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant, or vehicle, as used herein, includes any and all solvents, diluents, or other liquid vehicle, dispersion or suspension aids, surface active agents, isotonic agents, thickening or emulsifying agents, preservatives, solid binders, lubricants and the like, as suited to the particular dosage form desired. Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sixteenth Edition, E. W. Martin (Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1980) discloses various carriers used in formulating pharmaceutically acceptable compositions and known techniques for the preparation thereof. Except insofar as any conventional carrier medium is incompatible with the compounds of the invention, such as by producing any undesirable biological effect or otherwise interacting in a deleterious manner with any other component(s) of the pharmaceutically acceptable composition, its use is contemplated to be within the scope of this invention.

Some examples of materials which can serve as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to, ion exchangers, alumina, aluminum stearate, lecithin, serum proteins, such as human serum albumin, buffer substances such as phosphates, glycine, sorbic acid, or potassium sorbate, partial glyceride mixtures of saturated vegetable fatty acids, water, salts or electrolytes, such as protamine sulfate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, potassium hydrogen phosphate, sodium chloride, zinc salts, colloidal silica, magnesium trisilicate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyacrylates, waxes, polyethylene-polyoxypropylene-block polymers, wool fat, sugars such as lactose, glucose and sucrose; starches such as corn starch and potato starch; cellulose and its derivatives such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate; powdered tragacanth; malt; gelatin; talc; excipients such as cocoa butter and suppository waxes; oils such as peanut oil, cottonseed oil; safflower oil; sesame oil; olive oil; corn oil and soybean oil; glycols; such a propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol; esters such as ethyl oleate and ethyl laurate; agar; buffering agents such as magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide; alginic acid; pyrogen-free water; isotonic saline; Ringer's solution; ethyl alcohol, and phosphate buffer solutions, as well as other non-toxic compatible lubricants such as sodium lauryl sulfate and magnesium stearate, as well as coloring agents, releasing agents, coating agents, sweetening, flavoring and perfuming agents, preservatives and antioxidants can also be present in the composition, according to the judgment of the formulator.

The protein kinase inhibitors or pharmaceutical salts thereof may be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions for administration to a subject as defined herein. These pharmaceutical compositions, which comprise an amount of the protein inhibitor effective to treat or prevent a protein kinase-mediated condition and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, are another embodiment of the present invention.

In one embodiment the present invention is a method of treating or preventing a protein kinase-mediated disorder in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound composition or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the present invention as described herein. In another embodiment, the present invention is the use of an effective amount of a compound, composition or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt described herein for treating or preventing a disease or disorder, described herein, in a subject in need thereof. In yet another embodiment, the present invention is the use of an effective amount of a compound, composition or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt described herein for the manufacture of a medicament method for the treatment or prevention of a disease or disorder, described herein, in a subject in need thereof. In one embodiment the protein kinase mediated disease is a protein kinase C(PKC) mediated disease. In another embodiment the protein kinase mediated disease is a protein kinase C theta (PKCtheta)-mediated disease.

As used herein, the terms “subject”, “patient” and “mammal” are used interchangeably. The terms “subject” and “patient” refer to an animal (e.g., a bird such as a chicken, quail or turkey, or a mammal), preferably a mammal including a non-primate (e.g., a cow, pig, horse, sheep, rabbit, guinea pig, rat, cat, dog, and mouse) and a primate (e.g., a monkey, chimpanzee and a human), and more preferably a human. In one embodiment, the subject is a non-human animal such as a farm animal (e.g., a horse, cow, pig or sheep), or a pet (e.g., a dog, cat, guinea pig or rabbit). In a preferred embodiment, the subject is a human.

As used herein, an “effective amount” refers to an amount sufficient to elicit the desired biological response. In the present invention the desired biological response is to reduce or ameliorate the severity, duration, progression, or onset of a protein kinase-mediated condition, prevent the advancement of a protein kinase-mediated condition, cause the regression of a protein kinase-mediated condition, prevent the recurrence, development, onset or progression of a symptom associated with a protein kinase-mediated condition, or enhance or improve the prophylactic or therapeutic effect(s) of another therapy. The precise amount of compound administered to a subject will depend on the mode of administration, the type and severity of the disease or condition and on the characteristics of the subject, such as general health, age, sex, body weight and tolerance to drugs. It will also depend on the degree, severity and type of protein kinase-mediated condition, and the mode of administration. The skilled artisan will be able to determine appropriate dosages depending on these and other factors. When co-administered with other agents, e.g., when co-administered with an protein kinase-mediated condition agent, an “effective amount” of the second agent will depend on the type of drug used. Suitable dosages are known for approved agents and can be adjusted by the skilled artisan according to the condition of the subject, the type of condition(s) being treated and the amount of a compound of the invention being used. In cases where no amount is expressly noted, an effective amount should be assumed.

As used herein, the terms “treat”, “treatment” and “treating” refer to the reduction or amelioration of the progression, severity and/or duration of a protein kinase-mediated condition, or the amelioration of one or more symptoms (preferably, one or more discernible symptoms) of a protein kinase-mediated condition resulting from the administration of one or more therapies (e.g., one or more therapeutic agents such as a compound of the invention). In specific embodiments, the terms “treat”, “treatment” and “treating” refer to the amelioration of at least one measurable physical parameter of a protein kinase-mediated condition. In other embodiments the terms “treat”, “treatment” and “treating” refer to the inhibition of the progression of a protein kinase-mediated condition, either physically by, e.g., stabilization of a discernible symptom, physiologically by, e.g., stabilization of a physical parameter, or both. In other embodiments the terms “treat”, “treatment” and “treating” refer to the reduction or stabilization of a protein kinase-mediated condition.

As used herein, the terms “prevent”, “prevention” and “preventing” refer to the reduction in the risk of acquiring or developing a given protein kinase-mediated condition, or the reduction or inhibition of the recurrence or a protein kinase-mediated condition. In one embodiment, a compound of the invention is administered as a preventative measure to a patient, preferably a human, having a genetic predisposition to any of the conditions, diseases or disorders described herein.

As used herein, the terms, “disease”, “disorder” and “condition” may be used interchangeably here to refer to a protein kinase-mediated condition.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for treating or lessening the severity of a disease, condition, or disorder where a protein kinase is implicated in the disease state. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for treating or lessening the severity of a kinase disease, condition, or disorder where inhibition of enzymatic activity is implicated in the treatment of the disease. In another aspect, this invention provides a method for treating or lessening the severity of a disease, condition, or disorder with compounds that inhibit enzymatic activity by binding to the protein kinase. Another aspect provides a method for treating or lessening the severity of a kinase disease, condition, or disorder by inhibiting enzymatic activity of the kinase with a protein kinase inhibitor. In some embodiments, said protein kinase inhibitor is a PKCtheta inhibitor.

The term “protein kinase-mediated condition”, as used herein means any disease or other deleterious condition in which a protein kinase plays a role. Such conditions include, without limitation, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, proliferative and hyperproliferative diseases, immunologically-mediated diseases, immuno-deficiency disorders, immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive disorder, bone diseases, metabolic diseases, neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, hormone related diseases, diabetes, allergies, asthma, and Alzheimer's disease.

The term “PKC-mediated condition”, as used herein means any disease or other deleterious condition in which PKC plays a role. Such conditions include, without limitation, those listed above, and in particular, T-cell mediated diseases, including without limitation autoimmune diseases, chronic or acute inflammatory diseases, and proliferative and hyperproliferative diseases.

The term “PKCtheta-mediated condition”, as used herein means any disease or other deleterious condition in which PKCtheta plays a role. Such conditions include, diseases, without limitation, those listed above, and in particular, autoimmune diseases, chronic or acute inflammatory diseases, and proliferative and hyperproliferative diseases.

As used herein, the term “inflammatory disease” or “inflammatory disorder” refers to pathological states resulting in inflammation, typically caused by leukocyte infiltration. Examples of such disorders include inflammatory skin diseases, including, without limitation, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis; systemic scleroderma and sclerosis; responses associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis); ischemic reperfusion disorders including surgical tissue reperfusion injury, myocardial ischemic conditions such as myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, reperfusion after cardiac surgery and constriction after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, stroke, and abdominal aortic aneurysms; cerebral edema secondary to stroke; cranial trauma, hypovolemic shock; asphyxia; adult respiratory distress syndrome; acute-lung injury; Behcet's Disease; dermatomyositis; polymyositis; multiple sclerosis (MS); dermatitis; meningitis; encephalitis; uveitis; osteoarthritis; lupus nephritis; autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Sjorgen's syndrome, vasculitis; diseases involving leukocyte diapedesis; central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory disorder, multiple organ injury syndrome secondary to septicaemia or trauma; alcoholic hepatitis; bacterial pneumonia; antigen-antibody complex mediated diseases including glomerulonephritis; sepsis; sarcoidosis; immunopathologic responses to tissue or organ transplantation; inflammations of the lung, including pleurisy, alveolitis, vasculitis, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, diffuse panbronchiolitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and cystic fibrosis; etc.

Proliferative or hyperproliferative diseases are characterized by excessive or abnormal cell proliferation. Such diseases include, without limitation, cancer and myeloproliferative disorders.

The term “cancers” includes, but is not limited to, the following cancers: epidermoid Oral: Cardiac: Lung: Gastrointestinal: Genitourinary tract: Liver: Bone: Nervous system: Gynecological: Hematologic: Thyroid gland: and Adrenal glands. Hematologic cancers include: blood (myeloid leukemia [acute and chronic], acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, myeloproliferative diseases, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome), Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [malignant lymphoma] hairy cell; lymphoid disorders; Skin: malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Karposi's sarcoma, keratoacanthoma, moles dysplastic nevi, lipoma, angioma, dermatofibroma, keloids, and psoriasis. Thus, the term “cancerous cell” as provided herein, includes a cell afflicted by any one of the above-identified conditions.

The term “myeloproliferative disorders”, includes disorders such as polycythemia vera, thrombocythemia, myeloid metaplasia with myelofibrosis, hypereosinophilic syndrome, juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia, systemic mast cell disease, and hematopoietic disorders, in particular, acute-myelogenous leukemia (AML), chronic-myelogenous leukemia (CML), acute-promyelocytic leukemia (APL), and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).

Examples of neurodegenerative diseases include, without limitation, Alzheimer's disease Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, AIDS-associated dementia, and bipolar disorder.

In one embodiment the PKCtheta mediated disease includes, without limitation, chronic inflammation, autoimmune diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), rheumatoid spondylitis, gouty arthritis and other arthritic conditions, multiple sclerosis (MS), asthma, systemic lupus erythrematosis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, Behcet's disease, psoriasis, chronic pulmonary inflammatory disease, graft versus host reaction, Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome; Alzheimer's disease, T-cell leukaemia, lymphoma, transplant rejection, cancer and pyresis, along with any disease or disorder that relates to inflammation and related disorders.

In one embodiment the PKCtheta mediated disease includes, such as, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, joint inflammation, lupus, multiple sclerosis, asthma, psoriasis, cancer, T-cell lymphomas, leukaemia, diabetes type I or II, and inflammatory bowel diseases, transplant rejection, Crohn's disease and colitis.

Examples of autoimmune diseases include, without limitation, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and irritable bowel disease.

The pharmaceutically acceptable compositions of this invention can be administered to humans and other animals orally, rectally, parenterally, intracisternally, intravaginally, intraperitoneally, topically (as by powders, ointments, or drops), bucally, as an oral or nasal spray, or the like, depending on the severity of the infection being treated.

Liquid dosage forms for oral administration include, but are not limited to, pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, microemulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups and elixirs. In addition to the active compounds, the liquid dosage forms may contain inert diluents commonly used in the art such as, for example, water or other solvents, solubilizing agents and emulsifiers such as ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl carbonate, ethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, dimethylformamide, oils (in particular, cottonseed, groundnut, corn, germ, olive, castor, and sesame oils), glycerol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, polyethylene glycols and fatty acid esters of sorbitan, and mixtures thereof. Besides inert diluents, the oral compositions can also include adjuvants such as wetting agents, emulsifying and suspending agents, sweetening, flavoring, and perfuming agents.

Injectable preparations, for example, sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginous suspensions may be formulated according to the known art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution, suspension or emulsion in a nontoxic parenterally acceptable diluent or solvent, for example, as a solution in 1,3-butanediol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution, U.S.P. and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose any bland fixed oil can be employed including synthetic mono- or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid are used in the preparation of injectables.

The injectable formulations can be sterilized, for example, by filtration through a bacterial-retaining filter, or by incorporating sterilizing agents in the form of sterile solid compositions which can be dissolved or dispersed in sterile water or other sterile injectable medium prior to use.

In order to prolong the effect of a compound of the present invention, it is often desirable to slow the absorption of the compound from subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. This may be accomplished by the use of a liquid suspension of crystalline or amorphous material with poor water solubility. The rate of absorption of the compound then depends upon its rate of dissolution that, in turn, may depend upon crystal size and crystalline form. Alternatively., delayed absorption of a parenterally administered compound form is accomplished by dissolving or suspending the compound in an oil vehicle. Injectable depot forms are made by forming microencapsule matrices of the compound in biodegradable polymers such as polylactide-polyglycolide. Depending upon the ratio of compound to polymer and the nature of the particular polymer employed, the rate of compound release can be controlled. Examples of other biodegradable polymers include poly(orthoesters) and poly(anhydrides). Depot injectable formulations are also prepared by entrapping the compound in liposomes or microemulsions that are compatible with body tissues.

Compositions for rectal or vaginal administration are preferably suppositories which can be prepared by mixing the compounds of this invention with suitable non-irritating excipients or carriers such as cocoa butter, polyethylene glycol or a suppository wax which are solid at ambient temperature but liquid at body temperature and therefore melt in the rectum or vaginal cavity and release the active compound.

Solid dosage forms for oral administration include capsules, tablets, pills, powders, and granules. In such solid dosage forms, the active compound is mixed with at least one inert, pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier such as sodium citrate or dicalcium phosphate and/or a) fillers or extenders such as starches, lactose, sucrose, glucose, mannitol, and silicic acid, b) binders such as, for example, carboxymethylcellulose, alginates, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidinone, sucrose, and acacia, c) humectants such as glycerol, d) disintegrating agents such as agar—agar, calcium carbonate, potato or tapioca starch, alginic acid, certain silicates, and sodium carbonate, e) solution retarding agents such as paraffin, f) absorption accelerators such as quaternary ammonium compounds, g) wetting agents such as, for example, cetyl alcohol and glycerol monostearate, h) absorbents such as kaolin and bentonite clay, and i) lubricants such as talc, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, solid polyethylene glycols, sodium lauryl sulfate, and mixtures thereof. In the case of capsules, tablets and pills, the dosage form may also comprise buffering agents.

Solid compositions of a similar type may also be employed as fillers in soft and hard-filled gelatin capsules using such excipients as lactose or milk sugar as well as high molecular weight polyethylene glycols and the like. The solid dosage forms of tablets, dragees, capsules, pills, and granules can be prepared with coatings and shells such as enteric coatings and other coatings well known in the pharmaceutical formulating art. They may optionally contain opacifying agents and can also be of a composition that they release the active ingredient(s) only, or preferentially, in a certain part of the intestinal tract, optionally, in a delayed manner. Examples of embedding compositions that can be used include polymeric substances and waxes. Solid compositions of a similar type may also be employed as fillers in soft and hard-filled gelatin capsules using such excipients as lactose or milk sugar as well as high molecular weight polethylene glycols and the like.

The active compounds can also be in microencapsulated form with one or more excipients as noted above. The solid dosage forms of tablets, dragees, capsules, pills, and granules can be prepared with coatings and shells such as enteric coatings, release controlling coatings and other coatings well known in the pharmaceutical formulating art. In such solid dosage forms the active compound may be admixed with at least one inert diluent such as sucrose, lactose or starch. Such dosage forms may also comprise, as is normal practice, additional substances other than inert diluents, e.g., tableting lubricants and other tableting aids such a magnesium stearate and microcrystalline cellulose. In the case of capsules, tablets and pills, the dosage forms may also comprise buffering agents. They may optionally contain opacifying agents and can also be of a composition that they release the active ingredient(s) only, or preferentially, in a certain part of the intestinal tract, optionally, in a delayed manner. Examples of embedding compositions that can be used include polymeric substances and waxes.

Dosage forms for topical or transdermal administration of a compound of this invention include ointments, pastes, creams, lotions, gels, powders, solutions, sprays, inhalants or patches. The active component is admixed under sterile conditions with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and any needed preservatives or buffers as may be required. Ophthalmic formulation, eardrops, and eye drops are also contemplated as being within the scope of this invention. Additionally, the present invention contemplates the use of transdermal patches, which have the added advantage of providing controlled delivery of a compound to the body. Such dosage forms can be made by dissolving or dispensing the compound in the proper medium. Absorption enhancers can also be used to increase the flux of the compound across the skin. The rate can be controlled by either providing a rate controlling membrane or by dispersing the compound in a polymer matrix or gel.

The compositions of the present invention may be administered orally, parenterally, by inhalation spray, topically, rectally, nasally, buccally, vaginally or via an implanted reservoir. The term “parenteral” as used herein includes, but is not limited to, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intra-articular, intra-synovial, intrasternal, intrathecal, intrahepatic, intralesional and intracranial injection or infusion techniques. Preferably, the compositions are administered orally, intraperitoneally or intravenously.

Sterile injectable forms of the compositions of this invention may be aqueous or oleaginous suspension. These suspensions may be formulated according to techniques known in the art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution or suspension in a non-toxic parenterally-acceptable diluent or solvent, for example as a solution in 1,3-butanediol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose, any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono- or di-glycerides. Fatty acids, such as oleic acid and its glyceride derivatives are useful in the preparation of injectables, as are natural pharmaceutically-acceptable oils, such as olive oil or castor oil, especially in their polyoxyethylated versions. These oil solutions or suspensions may also contain a long-chain alcohol diluent or dispersant, such as carboxymethyl cellulose or similar dispersing agents which are commonly used in the formulation of pharmaceutically acceptable dosage forms including emulsions and suspensions. Other commonly used surfactants, such as Tweens, Spans and other emulsifying agents or bioavailability enhancers which are commonly used in the manufacture of pharmaceutically acceptable solid, liquid, or other dosage forms may also be used for the purposes of formulation.

The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be orally administered in any orally acceptable dosage form including, but not limited to, capsules, tablets, aqueous suspensions or solutions. In the case of tablets for oral use, carriers commonly used include, but are not limited to, lactose and corn starch. Lubricating agents, such as magnesium stearate, are also typically added. For oral administration in a capsule form, useful diluents include lactose and dried cornstarch. When aqueous suspensions are required for oral use, the active ingredient is combined with emulsifying and suspending agents. If desired, certain sweetening, flavoring or coloring agents may also be added.

Alternatively, the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be administered in the form of suppositories for rectal administration. These can be prepared by mixing the agent with a suitable non-irritating excipient which is solid at room temperature but liquid at rectal temperature and therefore will melt in the rectum to release the drug. Such materials include, but are not limited to, cocoa butter, beeswax and polyethylene glycols.

The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may also be administered topically, especially when the target of treatment includes areas or organs readily accessible by topical application, including diseases of the eye, the skin, or the lower intestinal tract. Suitable topical formulations are readily prepared for each of these areas or organs.

Topical application for the lower intestinal tract can be effected in a rectal suppository formulation (see above) or in a suitable enema formulation. Topically-transdermal patches may also be used.

For topical applications, the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated in a suitable ointment containing the active component suspended or dissolved in one or more carriers. Carriers for topical administration of the compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, mineral oil, liquid petrolatum, white petrolatum, propylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, polyoxypropylene compound, emulsifying wax and water. Alternatively, the pharmaceutical compositions can be formulated in a suitable lotion or cream containing the active components suspended or dissolved in one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. Suitable carriers include, but are not limited to, mineral oil, sorbitan monostearate, polysorbate 60, cetyl esters wax, cetearyl alcohol, 2 octyldodecanol, benzyl alcohol and water.

For ophthalmic use, the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated as micronized suspensions in isotonic, pH adjusted sterile saline, or, preferably, as solutions in isotonic, pH adjusted sterile saline, either with or without a preservative such as benzylalkonium chloride. Alternatively, for ophthalmic uses, the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated in an ointment such as petrolatum.

The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may also be administered by nasal aerosol or inhalation. Such compositions are prepared according to techniques well-known in the art of pharmaceutical formulation and may be prepared as solutions in saline, employing benzyl alcohol or other suitable preservatives, absorption promoters to enhance bioavailability, fluorocarbons, and/or other conventional solubilizing or dispersing agents.

The dosage regimen utilizing the compounds of Structural Formula I and II can be selected in accordance with a variety of factors including the disorder being treated and the severity of the disorder; the activity of the specific compound employed; the specific composition employed; the age, body weight, general health, sex and diet of the patient; the time of administration, route of administration, and rate of excretion of the specific compound employed; the renal and hepatic function of the subject; and the particular compound or salt thereof employed, the duration of the treatment; drugs used in combination or coincidental with the specific compound employed, and like factors well known in the medical arts. The skilled artisan can readily determine and prescribe the effective amount of the compound of Structural Formula I and II required to treat, for example, to prevent, inhibit (fully or partially) or arrest the progress of the disease.

Dosages of the compounds of Structural Formula I and II can range from between about 0.01 to about 100 mg/kg body weight/day, about 0.01 to about 50 mg/kg body weight/day, about 0.1 to about 50 mg/kg body weight/day, or about 1 to about 25 mg/kg body weight/day. It is understood that the total amount per day can be administered in a single dose or can be administered in multiple dosings such as twice, three or four times per day.

The compounds for use in the method of the invention can be formulated in unit dosage form. The term “unit dosage form” refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosage for subjects undergoing treatment, with each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active material calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect, optionally in association with a suitable pharmaceutical carrier. The unit dosage form can be for a single daily dose or one of multiple daily doses (e.g., about 1 to 4 or more times per day). When multiple daily doses are used, the unit dosage form can be the same or different for each dose.

An effective amount can be achieved in the method or pharmaceutical composition of the invention employing a compound of Structural Formula I and II or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate (e.g., hydrate) thereof alone or in combination with an additional suitable therapeutic agent, for example, a cancer-therapeutic agent. When combination therapy is employed, an effective amount can be achieved using a first amount of a compound of Structural Formula I and II or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate (e.g., hydrate) thereof and a second amount of an additional suitable therapeutic agent.

In one embodiment, the compound of Structural Formula I and II and the additional therapeutic agent, are each administered in an effective amount (i.e., each in an amount which would be therapeutically effective if administered alone). In another embodiment, the compound of Structural Formula I and II and the additional therapeutic agent, are each administered in an amount which alone does not provide a therapeutic effect (a sub-therapeutic dose). In yet another embodiment, the compound of Structural Formula I and II be administered in an effective amount, while the additional therapeutic agent is administered in a sub-therapeutic dose. In still another embodiment, the compound of Structural Formula I and II can be administered in a sub-therapeutic dose, while the additional therapeutic agent, for example, a suitable cancer-therapeutic agent is administered in an effective amount.

As used herein, the terms “in combination” or “coadministration” can be used interchangeably to refer to the use of more than one therapies (e.g., one or more prophylactic and/or therapeutic agents). The use of the terms does not restrict the order in which therapies (e.g., prophylactic and/or therapeutic agents) are administered to a subject.

Coadministration encompasses administration of the first and second amounts of the compounds of the coadministration in an essentially simultaneous manner, such as in a single pharmaceutical composition, for example, capsule or tablet having a fixed ratio of first and second amounts, or in multiple, separate capsules or tablets for each. In addition, such coadministration also encompasses use of each compound in a sequential manner in either order.

When coadministration involves the separate administration of the first amount of a compound of Structural Formula I and II and a second amount of an additional therapeutic agent, the compounds are administered sufficiently close in time to have the desired therapeutic effect. For example, the period of time between each administration which can result in the desired therapeutic effect, can range from minutes to hours and can be determined taking into account the properties of each compound such as potency, solubility, bioavailability, plasma half-life and kinetic profile. For example, a compound of Structural Formula I and II and the second therapeutic agent can be administered in any order within about 24 hours of each other, within about 16 hours of each other, within about 8 hours of each other, within about 4 hours of each other, within about 1 hour of each other or within about 30 minutes of each other.

More, specifically, a first therapy (e.g., a prophylactic or therapeutic agent such as a compound of the invention) can be administered prior to (e.g., 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, 96 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, or 12 weeks before), concomitantly with, or subsequent to (e.g., 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, 96 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, or 12 weeks after) the administration of a second therapy (e.g., a prophylactic or therapeutic agent such as an anti-cancer agent) to a subject.

It is understood that the method of coadministration of a first amount of a compound of Structural Formula I and II and a second amount of an additional therapeutic agent can result in an enhanced or synergistic therapeutic effect, wherein the combined effect is greater than the additive effect that would result from separate administration of the first amount of the compound of Structural Formula I and II and the second amount of the additional therapeutic agent.

As used herein, the term “synergistic” refers to a combination of a compound of the invention and another therapy (e.g., a prophylactic or therapeutic agent), which is more effective than the additive effects of the therapies. A synergistic effect of a combination of therapies (e.g., a combination of prophylactic or therapeutic agents) permits the use of lower dosages of one or more of the therapies and/or less frequent administration of said therapies to a subject. The ability to utilize lower dosages of a therapy (e.g., a prophylactic or therapeutic agent) and/or to administer said therapy less frequently reduces the toxicity associated with the administration of said therapy to a subject without reducing the efficacy of said therapy in the prevention, management or treatment of a disorder. In addition, a synergistic effect can result in improved efficacy of agents in the prevention, management or treatment of a disorder. Finally, a synergistic effect of a combination of therapies (e.g., a combination of prophylactic or therapeutic agents) may avoid or reduce adverse or unwanted side effects associated with the use of either therapy alone.

The presence of a synergistic effect can be determined using suitable methods for assessing drug interaction. Suitable methods include, for example, the Sigmoid-Emax equation (Holford, N. H. G. and Scheiner, L. B., Clin. Pharmacokinet. 6: 429-453 (1981)), the equation of Loewe additivity (Loewe, S, and Muischnek, H., Arch. Exp. Pathol Pharmacol. 114: 313-326 (1926)) and the median-effect equation (Chou, T. C. and Talalay, P., Adv. Enzyme Regul. 22: 27-55 (1984)). Each equation referred to above can be applied with experimental data to generate a corresponding graph to aid in assessing the effects of the drug combination. The corresponding graphs associated with the equations referred to above are the concentration-effect curve, isobologram curve and combination index curve, respectively.

In some embodiments, said additional therapeutic agent is selected from a cancer-therapeutic agent, such as, an anti-cancer agent, an anti-proliferative agent, or a chemotherapeutic agent.

In some embodiments, said additional therapeutic agent is selected from camptothecin, the MEK inhibitor: U0126, a KSP (kinesin spindle protein) inhibitor, adriamycin, interferons, and platinum derivatives, such as Cisplatin.

In other embodiments, said additional therapeutic agent is selected from taxanes; inhibitors of bcr-abl (such as Gleevec, dasatinib, and nilotinib); inhibitors of EGFR (such as Tarceva and Iressa); DNA damaging agents (such as cisplatin, oxaliplatin, carboplatin, topoisomerase inhibitors, and anthracyclines); and antimetabolites (such as AraC and 5-FU).

In yet other embodiments, said additional therapeutic agent is selected from camptothecin, doxorubicin, idarubicin, Cisplatin, taxol, taxotere, vincristine, tarceva, the MEK inhibitor, U0126, a KSP inhibitor, vorinostat, Gleevec, dasatinib, and nilotinib.

In another embodiment, said additional therapeutic agent is selected from Her-2 inhibitors (such as Herceptin); HDAC inhibitors (such as vorinostat), VEGFR inhibitors (such as Avastin), c-KIT and FLT-3 inhibitors (such as sunitinib), BRAF inhibitors (such as Bayer's BAY 43-9006) MEK inhibitors (such as Pfizer's PD0325901); and spindle poisons (such as Epothilones and paclitaxel protein-bound particles (such as Abraxane®).

Other therapies or anticancer agents that may be used in combination with the inventive agents of the present invention include surgery, radiotherapy (in but a few examples, gamma-radiation, neutron beam radiotherapy, electron beam radiotherapy, proton therapy, brachytherapy, and systemic radioactive isotopes, to name a few), endocrine therapy, biologic response modifiers (interferons, interleukins, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to name a few), hyperthermia and cryotherapy, agents to attenuate any adverse effects (e.g., antiemetics), and other approved chemotherapeutic drugs, including, but not limited to, alkylating drugs (mechlorethamine, chlorambucil, Cyclophosphamide, Melphalan, Ifosfamide), antimetabolites (Methotrexate), purine antagonists and pyrimidine antagonists (6-Mercaptopurine, 5-Fluorouracil, Cytarabile, Gemcitabine), spindle poisons (Vinblastine, Vincristine, Vinorelbine, Paclitaxel), podophyllotoxins (Etoposide, Irinotecan, Topotecan), antibiotics (Doxorubicin, Bleomycin, Mitomycin), nitrosoureas (Carmustine, Lomustine), inorganic ions (Cisplatin, Carboplatin), enzymes (Asparaginase), and hormones (Tamoxifen, Leuprolide, Flutamide, and Megestrol), Gleevec™, adriamycin, dexamethasone, and cyclophosphamide.

A compound of the instant invention may also be useful for treating cancer in combination with any of the following therapeutic agents: abarelix (Plenaxis Depot®); aldesleukin (Prokine®); Aldesleukin (Proleukin®); Alemtuzumabb (Campath®); alitretinoin (Panretin®); allopurinol (Zyloprim®); altretamine (Hexylen®); amifostine (Ethyol®); anastrozole (Arimidex®); arsenic trioxide (Trisenox®); asparaginase (Elspar®); azacitidine (Vidaza®); bevacuzimab (Avastin®); bexarotene capsules (Targretin®); bexarotene gel (Targretin®); bleomycin (Blenoxane®); bortezomib (Velcade®); busulfan intravenous (Busulfex®); busulfan oral (Myleran®); calusterone (Methosarb®); capecitabine (Xeloda®); carboplatin (Paraplatin®); carmustine (BCNU®, BiCNU®); carmustine (Gliadel®); carmustine with Polifeprosan 20 Implant (Gliadel Wafer®); celecoxib (Celebrex®); cetuximab (Erbitux); chlorambucil (Leukeran®); cisplatin (Platinol®); cladribine (Leustatin®, 2-CdA®); clofarabine (Clolar®); cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®, Neosar®); cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan Injection®); cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan Tablet®); cytarabine (Cytosar-U®); cytarabine liposomal (DepoCyt®); dacarbazine (DTIC-Dome®); dactinomycin, actinomycin D (Cosmegen®); Darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp®); daunorubicin liposomal (DanuoXome®); daunorubicin, daunomycin (Daunorubicin®); daunorubicin, daunomycin (Cerubidine®); Denileukin diftitox (Ontak®); dexrazoxane (Zinecard®); docetaxel (Taxotere®); doxorubicin (Adriamycin PFS®); doxorubicin (Adriamycin®, Rubex®); doxorubicin (Adriamycin PFS Injection®); doxorubicin liposomal (Doxil®); dromostanolone propionate (Dromostanolone®); dromostanolone propionate (Masterone Injection®); Elliott's B Solution (Elliott's B Solution®); epirubicin (Ellence®); Epoetin alfa (Epogen®); erlotinib (Tarceva®); estramustine (Emcyt®); etoposide phosphate (Etopophos®); etoposide, VP-16 (Vepesid®); exemestane (Aromasin®); Filgrastim (Neupogen®); floxuridine (intraarterial) (FUDR®); fludarabine (Fludara®); fluorouracil, 5-FU (Adrucil®); fulvestrant (Faslodex®); gefitinib (Iressa®); gemcitabine (Gemzar®); gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg®); goserelin acetate (Zoladex Implant®); goserelin acetate (Zoladex®); histrelin acetate (Histrelin Implant®); hydroxyurea (Hydrea®); Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin®); idarubicin (Idamycin®); ifosfamide (IFEX®); imatinib mesylate (Gleevec®); interferon alfa 2a (Roferon A®); Interferon alfa-2b (Intron A®); irinotecan (Camptosar®); lenalidomide (Revlimid®); letrozole (Femara®); leucovorin (Wellcovorin®, Leucovorin®); Leuprolide Acetate (Eligard®); levamisole (Ergamisol®); lomustine, CCNU (CeeBU®); meclorethamine, nitrogen mustard (Mustargen®); megestrol acetate (Megace®); melphalan, L-PAM (Alkeran®); mercaptopurine, 6-MP (Purinethol®); mesna (Mesnex®); mesna (Mesnex Tabs®); methotrexate (Methotrexate®); methoxsalen (Uvadex®); mitomycin C (Mutamycin®); mitotane (Lysodren®); mitoxantrone (Novantrone®); nandrolone phenpropionate (Durabolin-50®); nelarabine (Arranon®); Nofetumomab (Verluma®); Oprelvekin (Neumega®); oxaliplatin (Eloxatin®); paclitaxel (Paxene®); paclitaxel (Taxol®); paclitaxel protein-bound particles (Abraxane®); palifermin (Kepivance®); pamidronate (Aredia®); pegademase (Adagen (Pegademase Bovine)®); pegaspargase (Oncaspar®); Pegfilgrastim (Neulasta®); pemetrexed disodium (Alimta®); pentostatin (Nipent®); pipobroman (Vercyte®); plicamycin, mithramycin (Mithracin®); porfimer sodium (Photofrin®); procarbazine (Matulane®); quinacrine (Atabrine®); Rasburicase (Eliteke); Rituximab (Rituxan®); sargramostim (Leukine®); Sargramostim (Prokine®); sorafenib (Nexavar®); streptozocin (Zanosar®); sunitinib maleate (Sutent®); talc (Sclerosol®); tamoxifen (Nolvadex®); temozolomide (Temodar®); teniposide, VM-26 (Vumon®); testolactone (Teslac®); thioguanine, 6-TG (Thioguanine®); thiotepa (Thioplex®); topotecan (Hycamtin); toremifene (Fareston®); Tositumomab (Bexxar®); Tositumomab/I-131 tositumomab (Bexxar®); Trastuzumab (Herceptin®); tretinoin, ATRA (Vesanoid®); Uracil Mustard (Uracil Mustard Capsules®); valrubicin (Valstar®); vinblastine (Velban®); vincristine (Oncovin®); vinorelbine (Navelbine®); zoledronate (Zometa®) and vorinostat (Zolinza®).

For a comprehensive discussion of updated cancer therapies see, http://www.nci.nih.gov/, a list of the FDA approved oncology drugs at http://www.fda.gov/cder/cancer/druglistframe.htm, and The Merck Manual, Seventeenth Ed. 1999, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Other examples of agents the compounds of this invention may also be combined with include, without limitation: treatments for Alzheimer's Disease such as Aricept® and Excelon®; treatments for Parkinson's Disease such as L-DOPA/carbidopa, entacapone, ropinrole, pramipexole, bromocriptine, pergolide, trihexephendyl, and amantadine; agents for treating Multiple Sclerosis (MS) such as beta interferon (e.g., Avonex® and Rebif®), Copaxone®, and mitoxantrone; treatments for asthma such as albuterol and Singulair®; agents for treating schizophrenia such as zyprexa, risperdal, seroquel, and haloperidol; anti-inflammatory agents such as corticosteroids, TNF blockers, IL-1 RA, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, and sulfasalazine; immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive agents such as cyclosporin, tacrolimus, rapamycin, mycophenolate mofetil, interferons, corticosteroids, cyclophophamide, azathioprine, and sulfasalazine; neurotrophic factors such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, MAO inhibitors, interferons, anti-convulsants, ion channel blockers, riluzole, and anti-Parkinsonian agents; agents for treating cardiovascular disease such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, nitrates, calcium channel blockers, and statins; agents for treating liver disease such as corticosteroids, cholestyramine, interferons, and anti-viral agents; agents for treating blood disorders such as corticosteroids, anti-leukemic agents, and growth factors; and agents for treating immunodeficiency disorders such as gamma globulin.

As inhibitors of protein kinases, the compounds and compositions of this invention are also useful in biological samples. One aspect of the invention relates to inhibiting protein kinase activity in a biological sample, which method comprises contacting said biological sample with a compound of formula I and II or a composition comprising said compound. The term “biological sample”, as used herein, means an in vitro or an ex vivo sample, including, without limitation, cell cultures or extracts thereof; biopsied material obtained from a mammal or extracts thereof; and blood, saliva, urine, feces, semen, tears, or other body fluids or extracts thereof.

Inhibition of protein kinase activity in a biological sample is useful for a variety of purposes that are known to one of skill in the art. Examples of such purposes include, but are not limited to, blood transfusion, organ-transplantation, and biological specimen storage.

Another aspect of this invention relates to the study of protein kinases in biological and pathological phenomena; the study of intracellular signal transduction pathways mediated by such protein kinases; and the comparative evaluation of new protein kinase inhibitors. Examples of such uses include, but are not limited to, biological assays such as enzyme assays and cell-based assays.

The activity of the compounds as protein kinase inhibitors may be assayed in vitro, in vivo or in a cell line. In vitro assays include assays that determine inhibition of either the kinase activity or ATPase activity of the activated kinase. Alternate in vitro assays quantitate the ability of the inhibitor to bind to the protein kinase and may be measured either by radiolabelling the inhibitor prior to binding, isolating the inhibitor/kinase complex and determining the amount of radiolabel bound, or by running a competition experiment where new inhibitors are incubated with the kinase bound to known radioligands. Detailed conditions for assaying a compound utilized in this invention is set forth in the Examples below.

Another aspect of this invention relates to the use of the compounds described here (in particular those with moderate observed affinity for biochemical targets (IC50 1-10 μM)) as start points for chemistry optimization. In particular, one aspect of this invention relates to routine inhibition studies against a target enzyme for chemical optimization.

Another aspect of this invention relates to the use of the compounds described herein for crystallography (in particular those with moderate observed affinity for biochemical targets): In particular, the one aspect of this invention relates to the generation of co-complex crystal structures with compounds described herein.

Another aspect of this invention relates to the use of the compounds described herein as chemical tools to probe target biology in vitro and in vivo: In particular inhibitors with moderate affinity in biochemical assays can be used to probe the biological impact of inhibiting a target enzyme in cells and in whole animal models of disease.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method for modulating enzyme activity by contacting a compound of formula I, and II with a protein kinase.

ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations are used:

DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide TCA trichloroacetic acid ATP adenosine triphosphate BSA bovine serum albumin DTT dithiothreitol MOPS 4-morpholinepropanesulfonic acid NMR nuclear magnetic resonance HPLC high performance liquid chromatography LCMS liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry TLC thin layer chromatography Rt retention time

In some embodiments, the compounds of this invention are represented in Table 1. In certain embodiments, the variables used herein are as defined in the specific embodiments as shown in Table 1.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

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14

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16

17

18

19

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22

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26

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32

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35

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45

General Synthetic Methodology

The compounds of this invention may be prepared in light of the specification using steps generally known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Those compounds may be analyzed by known methods, including but not limited to LCMS (liquid chromatography mass spectrometry) HPLC and NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance). It should be understood that the specific conditions shown below are only examples, and are not meant to limit the scope of the conditions that can be used for making compounds of this invention. Instead, this invention also includes conditions that would be apparent to those skilled in that art in light of this specification for making the compounds of this invention. Unless otherwise indicated, all variables in the following schemes are as defined herein. General Schemes:

EXAMPLES

Mass spec. samples were analyzed on a MicroMass Quattro Micro mass spectrometer operated in single MS mode with electrospray ionization. Samples were introduced into the mass spectrometer using chromatography. Mobile phase for all mass spec. analyses consisted of 10 mM pH 7 ammonium acetate and a 1:1 acetonitrile-methanol mixture. Method A: Column gradient conditions were 5%-100% acetonitrile-methanol over 3.5 mins gradient time and 4.8 mins run time on an ACE5C8 3.0×75 mm column. Flow rate was 1.2 ml/min. Method B: Column gradient were 5%100% acetonitrile-methanol over 10 mins gradient time and 12 mins run time on a ACE5C8 4.6×150 mm column. Flow rate was 1.5 mL/min. As used herein, the term “Rt(min)” refers to the LCMS retention time, in minutes, associated with the compound. Unless otherwise indicated, the LCMS method utilized to obtain the reported retention time is as detailed above. If the Rt(min) is <5 min method A was used, if the Rt(min) is >5 min then method B was used.

1H-NMR spectra were recorded at 400 MHz using a Bruker DPX 400 instrument.

The following compounds of formula I, and II can be prepared and analyzed as follows:

Scheme I above shows a general route for the preparation of compounds of formula E, wherein the variables, are as defined herein and N(W)₂ forms the piperazine/pyrrolodine ring as defined herein. The weinreb amide A is coupled with compound B in the presence of n-butyl lithium or Grignard reagent to form a compound of formula C. Compound C is then heated in the presence of hydrazine to yield intermediate D. The compound of formula D is displaced by an optionally protected amine in the presence of suitable base, such as, potassium carbonate, diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA), triethylamine, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) etc., in a suitable solvent, such as for example, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), n-butanol (n-Bu-OH) etc., at about 70° C. to about 110° C., about 80° C. to about 100° C., about 90° C. to about 100° C. to form an amine substituted heteroaroyl pyrazolopyridine. Alternatively the displacement can be perform using Buchwall type condition using Pd as catalyst and a series of bases and ligands well known by those skilled in the art

Scheme II above shows a general route for the preparation of compounds of formula K, wherein the variables, are as defined herein. The Weinreb amide A is coupled with compound G in the presence of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) to form a compound of formula H. Compound H is then treated with hydrazine to yield intermediate 1. The compound of formula I is displaced by an optionally protected amine in the presence of suitable base, such as, potassium carbonate, diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA), triethylamine, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) etc., in a suitable solvent, such as for example, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), n-butanol (n-Bu-OH) etc., at about 70° C. to about 110° C. to form an amine substituted heteroaroyl pyrazolopyridine. Alternatively the displacement can be performed using Buchwald type condition using Pd as catalyst and a series of bases and ligands well known by those skilled in the art.

Scheme III above shows a general route for the preparation of compounds of formula O, wherein the variables, are as defined herein. The boronate derivative L is coupled with pyridine derivative L in the presence of Pd as catalyst in a Suzuki coupling reaction to form a compound of formula N. Compound N is then displaced by an optionally protected amine in the presence of suitable base, such as, potassium carbonate, diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA), triethylamine, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) etc., in a suitable solvent, such as for example, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), n-butanol (n-Bu-OH), N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP) etc., at about 70° C. to about 110° C. to form an amine substituted heteroaroyl pyrazolopyridine. Alternatively the displacement can be performed using Buchwald type condition using Pd as catalyst and a series of bases and ligands well known by those skilled in the art. Final deprotection yield compounds of general formula O.

Scheme IV above shows a general route for the preparation of compounds of formula R, wherein the variables, are as defined herein. M is displaced with an optionally protected amine in the presence of a suitable as such as potassium carbonate, diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA), triethylamine, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) etc., in a suitable solvent, such as for example, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), n-butanol (n-Bu-OH), N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP) at about 100° C. to about 130° C. to form an amine substituted pyridine P. The boronate derivative L is coupled with pyridine derivative P in the presence of Pd as catalyst in a Suzuki coupling reaction to form a compound of formula Q. Final deprotection yield compounds of general formula R.

Example 1 Compound 1 (R)-(+)-3-methyl-2-(pyrazin-2-yl)butan-2-ol

A solution of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (282.2 g, 337.2 mL, 1.998 mol) in dry THF (1.400 L) was cooled to −35° C. under nitrogen. nBuLi (2.5M in hexanes) (799.2 mL of 2.5 M, 1.998 mol) was added over 30 minutes, keeping the internal temperature between −25 and −35° C. The mixture was allowed to warm to 0° (+/−1°) and stirred for 10 minutes. The mixture was then cooled to −78° C. and held at this temperature for 20 minutes. A solution of pyrazine (80 g, 998.9 mmol) in dry THF (200.0 mL) was then cannulated into the lithium amide mixture, keeping the internal temperature below −70° C. The deep red mixture was stirred for 20 minutes, then 3-methylbutan-2-one (430.1 g, 534.3 mL, 4.994 mol) (cooled in a −78° C. bath) was added as rapidly as possible, keeping the internal temperature below −60°. The mixture was then stirred at −78° C. (+/−5° C.) for 2 hrs. Lc/Ms after this time showed no pyrazine remaining. The reaction was quenched at −78° C. by slow addition of 2M HCl (2 L). Ethyl acetate (800 mL) was then added. The mixture was allowed to warm to ambient and the organic phase separated. The mixture was very dark but the phases were easily separated. The aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×500 ml). The combined organics were washed with sat NaHCO3 (800 ml), then water (IL) then brine (500 ml). The mixture was then concentrated. The residue was dissolved in petrol (1.2 L). Some solid was present. MgSO4 was added and the mixture dried, filtered and concentrated. The crude was a dark red oil (260 g). The crude was purified on silica gel, eluting with 0-50% ethyl acetate/petrol). The title compound was obtained as a pale yellow oil (103.2 g, 62%); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 0.74 (3H, d), 1.01 (3H, d), 2.07 (1H, m), 4.19 (1H, s), 8.52 (2H, s), 8.73 (1H, s); MS ES(+) 167.35 (M+1).

The (R)-(+)-enantiomer was separated by chiral SFC chromatography using a cellulose-2 column (Phenomenex) (10% AcCN, 5 ml/min, 100 bar, 35° C., 220 nm; retention time 1.54 min) [□]_(D)+23.8° (c=5.15, EtOH).

(2R)-3-methyl-2-(piperazin-2-yl)butan-2-ol

Platinum oxide (4.673 g, 20.58 mmol) was placed in a Parr bottle. Methanol (140 mL) was added under an atmosphere of nitrogen followed by (R)-(+)-3-methyl-2-(pyrazin-2-yl)butan-2-ol (17.1 g, 102.9 mmol). The reaction mixture was shaken in a PARR hydrogenator overnight with a hydrogen pressure of 60 psi. Lc/Ms after this time indicate that the reaction was complete. The suspension was filtered through a pad of celite under a nitrogen atmosphere, rinsing with methanol. The crude mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was re-dissolved in dichloromethane, dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to afford the title compound as viscous light yellow oil (16.6 g, 93%); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 0.82-1.08 (9H, m), 1.81 (1H, m), 2.20-3.17 (10H, m); MS ES(+) 173.0 (M+1).

4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-2,3,5-trifluoropyridine

A solution of diisopropylamine (98.85 g, 136.9 mL, 976.9 mmol) in THF (1.350 L) was cooled to −65° C. n-BuLi (2.5 M in hexanes) (375.8 mL of 2.5 M, 939.4 mmol) was added dropwise via cannula over 1 h at such a rate as to maintain reaction temperature below −60° C. Once the addition was complete the cooling bath was removed and the reaction mixture was allowed to warm up to 0° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 15 min at 0° C., then re-cooled to −78° C. 2,3,5-trifluoropyridine (100 g, 751.5 mmol) was added dropwise via cannula over 20 min at such a rate to maintain the reaction temperature below −69° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 45 min at −78° C. during which time the solution turned orange brown. A solution of tert-butyl-chloro-dimethyl-silane (147.2 g, 976.9 mmol) in THF (150 mL) was then added via cannula over 30 min. The reaction mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 90 minutes during which time the solution darkened. Lc/Ms after this time indicated that the reaction was complete. A saturated ammonium chloride solution (300 ml) was then added and mixture was allowed to warm up to RT. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (100 ml) and extracted with EtOAc (1.5 L then 2×500 ml). The combined organics were washed with saturated NaHCO (500 ml) and brine (400 ml). The crude mixture was partially concentrated in vacuo, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to an oil. The crude was purified by flash chromatography (CombiFlash Companion XL, 1.5 kg column, 0-20% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether). This afforded the title compound as a colourless oil (136.2 g, 73%); NMR (CDCl₃) 0.34 (6H, s), 0.89 (9H, s), 7.73 (1H, s); MS ES(+) 248.25 (M+1).

(4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-3,5,6-trifluoropyridin-2-yl)(2-fluoropyridin-3-yl)methanone

A solution of diisopropylamine (66.78 g, 92.49 mL, 659.9 mmol) in THF (1.360 L) was cooled to −20° C. under nitrogen. nBuLi (2.5M in hexane) (253.0 mL of 2.5 M, 632.4 mmol) was added dropwise via cannula at such a rate as to maintain the internal temperature below −15° C. The solution was warmed to 0° C. then immediately re-cooled to −90° C. Tert-butyl-dimethyl-(2,3,5-trifluoro-4-pyridyl)silane (136 g, 549.9 mmol) was added dropwise via cannula at such a rate as to maintain the internal temperature below −85° C. After complete addition the solution became an orange suspension. The reaction mixture was stirred at −85° C. for 1 h then 2-fluoro-N-methoxy-N-methylpyridine-3-carboxamide (116.5 g, 632.4 mmol) was added dropwise over 1 h keeping the internal temperature below −85° C. The mixture turned dark green then dark red during addition. The mixture was stirred at −85° C. for 45 min after which time Lc/Ms indicated the reaction was complete. The cooling bath was removed and the mixture warmed to −50° C. Saturated ammonium chloride solution NH4Cl (300 mL) was added and the mixture allowed to warm up to RT. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc (2.5 L). The aqueous phase was separated and extracted with more EtOAc (500 ml). The combined organics were washed with brine and partially concentrated in vacuo. The solution was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to a brown oil. The crude was purified on silica gel, eluting with 0-20% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether. This gave the title compound as a yellow oil which solidified on standing (159.6 g, 78%); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 0.35 (6H, s), 0.88 (9H, s), 7.29 (1H, m), 8.13 (1H, m), 8.37 (1H, m); ¹⁹F NMR (decoupled)−112.47, −106.7, −89.3, −61.95; MS ES (+) 371.14 (M+1).

3-(4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-3,5,6-trifluoropyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine

[4-[tert-butyl(dimethyl)silyl]-3,5,6-trifluoro-2-pyridyl]-(2-fluoro-3-pyridyl)methanone (159 g, 429.2 mmol) was dissolved in dioxane (1.6 L) and calcium carbonate (85.91 g, 858.4 mmol) was added. The reaction was in an ice bath and hydrazine hydrate (107.4 g, 104.4 mL, 2.146 mol) was added dropwise over 30 minutes. The resultant mixture was stirred overnight, after which time the thick suspension became a heterogeneous red solution. The reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of Celite, washing copiously with EtOAc/MeOH 7:1 (2×500 mL) and a small amount of water (100 mL). The filtrate was partitioned between EtOAc (1 L) and water (500 ml). The organic phase was washed with a sat aq NaHCO3 (500 mL). The combined aqueous layers were back-extracted with EtOAc (2×200 ml) and the combined organics were washed with brine (400 ml), dried over MgSO4 and filtered and concentrated to an orange solid. The solid was triturated with dichloromethane and filtered, washing with dichloromethane and petrol. This gave the title compound as an off-white solid (103.8 g). The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting solid was again triturated and filtered, washing with more petrol to give an off-white solid (36.7 g). The title compound was obtained as an off-white solid (total weight 140.5 g, 90%); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 0.55 (6H, s), 1.02 (9H, s), 7.21 (1H, m), 8.69 (1H, m), 8.91 (1H, s), 11.69 (1H, brs); MS ES (+) 365.18 (M+1).

3-(4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-3,5-difluoro-6-((S)-3-((R)-3-methyl-2-(trimethylsilyloxy)butan-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl)pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine

A 500 ml glass pressure vessel was charged with tert-butyl-dimethyl-[2,3,5-trifluoro-6-(1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl)-4-pyridyl]silane (26.80 g, 73.53 mmol), (2R)-3-methyl-2-piperazin-2-yl-butan-2-ol (19 g, 110.3 mmol), THF (53 mL) and imidazol-1-yl-trimethyl-silane (51.57 g, 53.72 mL, 367.7 mmol). An identical experiment was run in parallel. The containers was sealed and the mixture was heated and stirred at 95° C. overnight. Lc/Ms after this time showed a mixture consisting of 73% of the desired (S,R)-diastereoisomer and 18% of the (R,R)-diastereoisomer. Both reaction mixtures were cooled, combined and diluted with EtOAc (500 ml). The solution was washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate (2×200 ml). The combined aqueous layers are extracted 3 times with ethyl acetate (200 ml). The combined organics were washed with brine (200 ml), dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give 163.874 g of viscous brown oil. The diastereoisomers were separated on silica gel, eluting with 10-95% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether containing 2% triethylamine). This gave the required (S,R)-diastereoisomer as an orange foam (60.1 g, 69%); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 0.001 (9H, s), 0.32 (6H, s), 0.76-0.84 (9H, m), 1.11 (4H, m), 1.45 (4H, m), 1.72 (1H, m), 1.90 (1H, s), 2.61 (1H, m), 2.74 (2H, m), 2.97 (1H, m), 3.11 (1H, m), 3.64 (1H, m), 3.82 (1H, m), 3.96 (1H, m), 7.09 (1H, m), 8.48 (1H, m), 8.74 (1H, m), 11.31 (1H, brs); ¹⁹F NMR (decoupled)−113.45, −108.39; MS ES(+) 589.3 (M+1). The (R,R)-diastereoisomer was isolated as an orange foam (22%); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 0.001 (9H, s), 0.33 (6H, s), 0.72-0.88 (10H, m), 1.07 (3H, m), 1.45 (5H, m), 1.86 (1H, m), 2.54 (1H, m), 2.74 (2H, m), 2.94 (1H, m), 3.07 (1H, m), 3.63 (1H, m), 3.73 (1H, m), 3.96 (1H, m), 7.04 (1H, m), 8.46 (1H, m), 8.69 (1H, m), 11.35 (1H, brs); ¹⁹F NMR (decoupled)−113.78, −108.4; MS ES(+) 589.3 (M+1).

(R)-2-((S)-4-(3,5-difluoro-6-(1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl)pyridin-2-yl)piperazin-2-yl)-3-methylbutan-2-ol

tert-butyl-[2-[(3S)-3-[(1R)-1,2-dimethyl-1-trimethylsilyloxy-propyl]piperazin-1-yl]-3,5-difluoro-6-(1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl)-4-pyridyl]-dimethyl-silane (60 g, 101.9 mmol) was dissolved in THF (216.0 mL) at room temperature. TBAF in THF (214.0 mL of 1 M, 214.0 mmol) was added dropwise via cannula to the brown solution over 45 minutes. The reaction was stirred overnight, after which time the deprotection was complete by Lc/Ms. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc (600 ml) and washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO3 (100 ml then 2×200 ml). The organic phase was further washed with a 2:3 mixture of saturated brine:water (100 ml) until no remaining Bu4N+ salts were observed Lc/Ms analysis. The organic phase was dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give a brown solid. The solid was triturated with diethyl ether, filtered and dried to give a orange brown solid (34.5 g, 84%). The solid was recrystallised from isopropanol. This afforded the title compound as a beige solid (23 g); ¹H NMR (d6-DMSO) 0.84 (3H, d), 0.90 (3H, d), 1.06 (3H, s), 1.83 (2H, m), 2.74 (2H, d), 2.85 (2H, d), 3.09 (1H, d), 3.78 (1H, d), 4.04 (1H, d), 4.13 (1H, s), 7.30 (1H, dd), 7.92 (1H, dd), 8.60 (1H, dd), 8.77 (1H, dd), 13.99 (1H, brs); ¹⁹F NMR (decoupled)−128.5, −124.1; MS ES(+) 403.0 (M+1).

A second crop was obtained from the filtrate (5.3 g) and had identical spectroscopic data.

Example 2 Compound 9

(R)-(+)-3-methyl-2-(pyrazin-2-yl)butan-2-ol

A solution of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (282.2 g, 337.2 mL, 1.998 mol) in dry THF (1.400 L) was cooled to −35° C. under nitrogen. nBuLi (2.5M in hexanes) (799.2 mL of 2.5 M, 1.998 mol) was added over 30 minutes, keeping the internal temperature between −25 and −35° C. The mixture was allowed to warm to 0° (+/−1°) and stirred for 10 minutes. The mixture was then cooled to −78° C. and held at this temperature for 20 minutes. A solution of pyrazine (80 g, 998.9 mmol) in dry THF (200.0 mL) was then cannulated into the lithium amide mixture, keeping the internal temperature below −70° C. The deep red mixture was stirred for 20 minutes, then 3-methylbutan-2-one (430.1 g, 534.3 mL, 4.994 mol) (cooled in a −78° C. bath) was added as rapidly as possible, keeping the internal temperature below −60°. The mixture was then stirred at −78° C. (+/−5° C.) for 2 hrs. Lc/Ms after this time showed no pyrazine remaining. The reaction was quenched at −78° C. by slow addition of 2M HCl (2 L). Ethyl acetate (800 mL) was then added. The mixture was allowed to warm to ambient and the organic phase separated. The mixture was very dark but the phases were easily separated. The aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×500 ml). The combined organics were washed with sat NaHCO3 (800 ml), then water (IL) then brine (500 ml). The mixture was then concentrated. The residue was dissolved in petrol (1.2 L). Some solid was present. MgSO4 was added and the mixture dried, filtered and concentrated. The crude was a dark red oil (260 g). The crude was purified on silica gel, eluting with 0-50% ethyl acetate/petrol). The title compound was obtained as a pale yellow oil (103.2 g, 62%); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 0.74 (3H, d), 1.01 (3H, d), 2.07 (1H, m), 4.19 (1H, s), 8.52 (2H, s), 8.73 (1H, s); MS ES(+) 167.35 (M+1).

The (R)-(+)-enantiomer was separated by chiral SFC chromatography using a cellulose-2 column (Phenomenex) (10% AcCN, 5 ml/min, 100 bar, 35° C., 220 nm; retention time 1.54 min) [□]_(D)+23.8° (c=5.15, EtOH).

(2R)-3-methyl-2-(piperazin-2-yl)butan-2-ol

Platinum oxide (4.673 g, 20.58 mmol) was placed in a Parr bottle. Methanol (140 mL) was added under an atmosphere of nitrogen followed by (R)-(+)-3-methyl-2-(pyrazin-2-yl)butan-2-ol (17.1 g, 102.9 mmol). The reaction mixture was shaken in a PARR hydrogenator overnight with a hydrogen pressure of 60 psi. Lc/Ms after this time indicate that the reaction was complete. The suspension was filtered through a pad of Celite under a nitrogen atmosphere, rinsing with methanol. The crude mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was re-dissolved in dichloromethane, dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to afford the title compound as viscous light yellow oil (16.6 g, 3:1 mixture of diastereoisomers, 93%); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 0.82-1.08 (9H, m), 1.81 (1H, m), 2.20-3.17 (10H, m); MS ES(+) 173.0 (M+1).

4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-3-chloro-2,5-difluoropyridine

A solution of diisopropylamine (78.52 g, 108.8 mL, 776.0 mmol) in THF (1.205 L) was cooled to −20° C. n-BuLi (2.5 M in hexanes) (298.4 mL of 2.5 M, 746.1 mmol) was added dropwise via cannula over 30 min at such a rate that the temperature was kept below −15° C. Once the addition was complete the cooling bath was removed and the reaction mixture was allowed to warm to 0° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 15 min at 0° C., then re-cooled to −78° C. 3-chloro-2,5-difluoro-pyridine (95.963 g, 596.9 mmol) was added dropwise via cannula over 20 min at such a rate that the temperature was kept below −70° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 45 min at −78° C. during which time the solution turned orange red. A solution of tert-butyl-chloro-dimethyl-silane (117.0 g, 776.0 mmol) in THF (133.9 mL) was added via cannula at such a rate to maintain the reaction temperature below −70° C. The reaction mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 90 minutes, during which time the solution turned to a deep red colour. Lc/Ms after this time indicated that the reaction was complete. A saturated ammonium chloride solution (300 ml) was then added and mixture was allowed to warm to ambient. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (200 ml) and saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (500 ml) and extracted with ethyl acetate (1.5 L then 500 ml). The combined organics were washed with brine (400 ml), dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to an oil (187 g). The crude was purified by flash chromatography (CombiFlash Companion XL, 1.5 kg column, 0.5-10% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether). This afforded the title compound as a pale yellow oil (113.8 g, 72%); NMR (CDCl₃) 0.46 (6H, d), 0.93 (9H, s), 7.84 (1H, d); ¹⁹F NMR (decoupled)−112.8, −74.6; MS ES (+) 264.95 (M+1).

2-fluoro-N-methoxy-N-methylpyridine-3-carboxamide

2-fluoropyridine-3-carboxylic acid (100 g, 708.7 mmol) was dissolved in THF (1.5 L). DMAP (86.58 g, 708.7 mmol) was added followed by N-methoxymethanamine hydrochloride (76.05 g, 779.6 mmol). The mixture was cooled to 10° C. then DIPEA (100.8 g, 135.8 mL, 779.6 mmol) was added followed by EDC (149.5 g, 779.6 mmol) portionwise. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes, then warmed rapidly to ambient temp (22° C.) and stirred overnight. Lc/Ms after this time showed no acid remaining. The reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate (1 L) and water (1.5 L). The mixture was stirred for 10 minutes then the organic phase was isolated. The aqueous was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×500 ml) and the combined organics washed with brine, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The crude was purified through a silica plug, eluting with 50-70% ethyl acetate/petrol. This afforded the title compound as a pale yellow oil (81 g, 62%); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 3.39 (3H, s), 3.68 (3H, brs), 7.29 (1H, m), 7.92 (1H, m), 8.32 (1H, m); MS ES (+) 184.9 (M+1).

(4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-5-chloro-3,6-difluoropyridin-2-yl)(2-fluoropyridin-3-yl)methanone

A solution of diisopropylamine (52.41 g, 72.59 mL, 517.9 mmol) in THF (967.3 mL) was cooled to −20° C. n-BuLi (2.5M in hexane) (198.5 mL of 2.5 M, 496.3 mmol) was added dropwise over 15 minutes via cannula maintaining the internal temperature below −15° C. The solution was warmed to 0° C. then immediately re-cooled to −90° C. A solution of tert-butyl-(3-chloro-2,5-difluoro-4-pyridyl)-dimethyl-silane (113.84 g, 431.6 mmol) in THF (85.35 mL) was added dropwise over 20 min via cannula at such a rate that the internal temperature was kept below −85° C. During addition the solution first changed to bright yellow then slowly became an orange coloured suspension. The reaction mixture was stirred at −85° C. for 1 h. A solution of 2-fluoro-N-methoxy-N-methylpyridine-3-carboxamide (91.40 g, 496.3 mmol) in THF (85.35 mL) was added dropwise over 15 minutes via cannula at such a rate that the internal temperature was kept below −80.7° C. (ideally below −85° C.). The mixture turned dark orange brown after the addition. The mixture was stirred at −85° C. for 90 minutes after which time Lc/Ms indicated the reaction was complete. The cooling bath was removed and the mixture warmed to −50° C. Saturated ammonium chloride solution (400 mL) was added and the mixture allowed to warm up to RT. The mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate (1.5 L). The aqueous phase was separated and extracted with more ethyl acetate (300 ml). The combined organics were washed with brine (300 ml), dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to a brown oil. The crude was purified on silica gel (CombiFlash Companion XL, 1.5 kg column, 0.5-10% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether, 0-50% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether). This gave the title compound as a yellow oil which solidified on standing (159.6 g, 95%); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 0.60 (6H, d), 1.07 (9H, s), 7.47 (1H, m), 8.33 (1H, m), 8.52 (1H, m); ¹⁹F NMR (decoupled)−107.2, −72.4, −61.8; MS ES (+) 387.04 (M+1).

3-(4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-5-chloro-3,6-difluoropyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine

[4-[tert-butyl(dimethyl)silyl]-5-chloro-3,6-difluoro-2-pyridyl]-(2-fluoro-3-pyridyl)methanone (294.86 g, 762.2 mmol) was dissolved in dioxane (2.212 L) and calcium carbonate (152.5 g, 1.524 mol) was added. The reaction was cooled in an ice bath and hydrazine hydrate (190.8 g, 185.4 mL, 3.811 mol) was added dropwise over 15 minutes via cannula to the yellow suspension keeping the internal temperature below 10° C. During addition, the internal temperature dropped to 7.1° C. and the colour changed from light yellow to mango orange. The resulting mixture was allowed to warm to ambient overnight. Lc/Ms after this time indicated the reaction was complete. The reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of Celite, washing copiously with dichloromethane (ca 2.5 L). Water (400 ml) was added to the filtrate followed by a saturated solution of sodium bicarbonate (400 mL). The organic phase separated and washed again with a saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (350 mL). The combined aqueous layers were back-extracted with dichloromethane (2×400 ml). The combined organics were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The resulting solid was slurried in petroleum ether, filtered and dried (81 g). The Celite was further washed with dichloromethane/methanol 7:1 (3×800 ml) and with 4 L of dichloromethane/methanol 4:1 until no remaining compound was observed on TLC. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. The residual solid was triturated with Petroleum ether as described above (185 g). The solids were combined and dried at 40° C. under vacuum. This gave the title compound as an off-white solid (260.5 g, 89%); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 0.63 (6H, d), 1.07 (9H, s), 7.44 (1H, m), 8.76 (1H, m), 9.07 (1H, m), 13.31 (1H, brs); ¹⁹F NMR (decoupled)−104.7, −73.8; MS ES (+) 381.1 (M+1).

3-(4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-5-chloro-3-fluoro-6-((S)-3-((R)-3-methyl-2-(trimethylsilyloxy)butan-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl)pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine

3-(4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-5-chloro-3,6-difluoropyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine (132.7 g, 348 mmol) was dissolved in anhydrous THF (265 mL). Imidazol-1-yl(trimethyl)silane (254 mL) was added followed by (2R)-3-methyl-2-(piperazin-2-yl)butan-2-ol (90 g, 522 mmol). The mixture was divided into four glass pressure vessel's and the sealed containers heated and stirred at 95° C. for 48 hours. The crude mixtures were cooled, combined and diluted with ethyl acetate (1.7 L). The solution was washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate (2×500 ml). The combined aqueous layers were back-extracted with ethyl acetate (500 ml). The combined organics were washed with brine (500 ml), dried over MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give a viscous brown oil. The diastereoisomers were separated on silica gel (10-100% ethyl acetate containing 2% triethylamine in petroleum ether). This gave the required (S,R)-diastereoisomer as a yellow foam (125.3 g, 59%); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 0.01 (9H, s), 0.42 (6H, s), 0.78-0.89 (15H, m), 1.09-1.13 (3H, m), 1.74 (1H, m), 2.61 (1H, m), 2.80-2.99 (4H, m), 3.12 (1H, m), 3.45 (1H, d), 3.69 (1H, d), 7.12 (1H, m), 8.55 (1H, m), 8.81 (1H, m), 12.75 (1H, brs); ¹⁹F NMR (decoupled) −108.9; MS ES 605.2 (M+). The (R,R)-diastereoisomer was isolated as a yellow foam (27.5 g, 13%); ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 0.00 (9H, s), 0.38 (6H, m), 0.76-0.80 (15H, m), 0.85 (3H, s), 1.85 (1H, m), 2.50 (1H, m), 2.90-3.13 (4H, m), 3.42 (1H, m), 3.56 (1H, m), 3.91 (1H, m), 7.08 (1H, m), 8.51 (1H, m), 8.76 (1H, m), 12.70 (1H, brs); ¹⁹F NMR (decoupled) −109.0; MS ES 605.2 (M+).

(R)-2-(S)-4-(3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-(1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl)pyridin-2-yl)piperazin-2-yl)-3-methylbutan-2-ol

3-(4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-5-chloro-3-fluoro-6-((S)-3-(R)-3-methyl-2-(trimethylsilyloxy)butan-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl)pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine (125 g, 206.5 mmol) was dissolved in THF (450 mL) at ambient temperature. Tetrabutylammonium fluoride (433.6 mL of 1 M THF solution, 433.6 mmol) was added dropwise via cannula to the yellow solution. The internal temperature increased from 21.3° C. to 27.7° C. The reaction was stirred for 48 hours. The mixture was then diluted with ethyl acetate (1.5 L) and washed with a 1:1 mixture of saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate and water (3×600 ml). The combined aqueous phases were back-extracted with ethyl acetate (2×600 ml). The combined organic phases were then washed with brine (600 ml), dried over MgSO4, filtered and partially concentrated in vacuo until the title product began to precipitate. A few drops of methanol were added and the mixture stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The product was then was filtered, rinsed with a minimum of ethyl acetate and petroleum ether to give an off-white solid which was dried under vacuum overnight (40° C. and 1.5 mbar). This afforded the title compound as a white solid (73.1 g, 84%); mp (DSC) onset 215.3° C., peak 218.1° C.; ¹H NMR (400.0 MHz, DMSO) 0.91 (d, 3H), 0.94 (d, 3H), 1.10 (s, 3H), 1.83 (b quint, 2H), 2.72 (t, 1H), 2.80-2.94 (m, 3H), 3.14-3.17 (m, 1H), 3.62 (d, 1H), 3.88 (d, 1H), 4.14 (s, 1H), 7.37 (dd, 1H), 8.16 (d, 1H), 8.65 (dd, 1H), 8.86 (dd, 1H), 14.12 (bs, 1H); ¹⁹F NMR (decoupled)−127.9; MS ES(+) 419.1 (M+1); ee>98% (Minigram SFC, ODH 250×10 mm, 20% MeOH (0.1% TEA), 5 mg/ml.

Example 3 Compound 36 6-((R)-3-((S)-1-amino-2-methylpropyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl)-2-chloro-5-fluoronicotinonitrile

A mixture of 2-methyl-1-[(3S)-pyrrolidin-3-yl]propan-1-amine (310 mg, 1.98 mmol), 2,6-dichloro-5-fluoro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (378.7 mg, 1.98 mmol) and DIPEA (512.6 mg, 690.8 μL, 3.97 mmol) in NMP (3 mL) was heated at 130° C. for 20 minutes under microwave conditions. After this time, the reaction mixture was allowed to cool to ambient temperature and diluted with EtOAc, water and saturated aqueous NaHCO₃. The organic layer was separated and washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude mixture was purified by column chromatography (ISCO Companion™, 40 g column, eluting with MeOH/DCM) to give the sub title compound as an oil (506.3 mg, 86% Yield).

6-((3S)-3-(1-amino-2-methylpropyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl)-5-fluoro-2-(1-trityl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl)nicotinonitrile

3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1-trityl-pyrazolo[5,4-b]pyridine (1.45 g, 2.98 mmol), 6-[(3S)-3-(1-amino-2-methyl-propyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]-2-chloro-5-fluoro-pyridine-3-carbonitrile (506 mg, 1.71 mmol), K₃PO₄ (1.45 g, 6.82 mmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₄ (98.51 mg, 0.09 mmol) were suspended in dioxane (18 mL) and water (1.8 mL) and heated at 100° C. for 2 hours. After this time, the reaction mixture was cooled to ambient and diluted with EtOAc, water and saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ and filtered through a celite pad. The organic layer was separated, washed with saturated aqueous brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude mixture was purified by column chromatography (ISCO Companion™, 40 g column, eluting with NH₄OH:MeOH/DCM) to give the sub title compound as an oil (762.1 mg, 72% Yield).

6-((3S)-3-(1-amino-2-methylpropyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl)-5-fluoro-2-(1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl)nicotinonitrile

A solution of 2-[(3S)-3-(1-amino-2-methyl-propyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]-5-fluoro-6-(1-tritylpyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl)pyridine-3-carbonitrile (762 mg, 1.27 mmol) in DCM (20 mL) was cooled at 0° C. and treated with triethylsilane (142.6 mg, 195.9 μL, 1.23 mmol) and TFA (2.80 g, 1.89 mL, 24.52 mmol). The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to ambient temperature over 18 hours. After this time the reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by reverse phase preparative HPLC [Waters Sunfire C18, 5 μM, 100 Å column, gradient 10%-95% B (solvent A: 0.05% TFA in water; solvent B: CH₃CN) over 16 minutes at 25 mL/min]. The fractions for peak 1 were collected and freeze-dried to give the mono-TFA salt of the title compound as a solid (58.8 mg, 19.4% Yield). H¹ NMR (400.0 MHz, DMSO) δ 14.19 (s, 1H), 8.72 (dd, J=1.3, 8.1 Hz, 1H), 8.62 (dd, J=1.5, 4.5 Hz, 1H), 8.03 (s, 1H), 7.88 (d, J=3.0 Hz, 3H), 7.32 (dd, J=4.5, 8.1 Hz, 1H), 4.05-4.00 (m, 2H), 3.75-3.11 (m, 3H), 2.60-2.50 (m, 1H), 2.26-2.18 (m, 1H), 2.01-1.74 (m, 2H), 1.06 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 3H) and 1.00 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 3H) ppm; MS (ES+) 380.0. The fractions for peak 2 were collected and freeze-dried to give the mono-TFA salt of the isomer of the title compound as a solid (47.0 mg, 15.2% Yield). H′ NMR (400.0 MHz, DMSO) δ 14.18 (s, 1H), 8.74 (dd, J=1.3, 8.1 Hz, 1H), 8.62 (dd, J=1.5, 4.5 Hz, 1H), 8.04 (s, 1H), 8.00 (s, 3H), 7.34 (dd, J=4.5, 8.2 Hz, 1H), 4.13-4.07 (m, 1H), 4.00-3.92 (m, 1H), 3.81-3.71 (m, 1H), 3.59-3.54 (m, 1H), 3.20-3.09 (m, 1H), 2.59-2.50 (m, 1H), 2.21-1.99 (m, 2H), 1.89-1.75 (m, 1H), 1.07 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 3H) and 0.97 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 3H) ppm; MS (ES+) 380.0.

A 70:30 mixture of (R,S):(R,R)-piperazine b/c was resolved in five steps by first protecting the unhindered nitrogen with Boc2O to afford a mixture of (R,S):(R,R)—N-Boc piperazine d/e. This mixture was treated with aqueous HCHO to afford a mixture of (R,S):(R,R)—N-Boc-oxazolidine f/g. The diastereomeric mixture was separated via SiO2 column chromatography. The pure diastereomers were sequentially deprotected with TfOH to form either (R,S)-oxazolidine h or (R,R)-oxazolidine and then heating with NH2OH.HCl [or by heating the bis-(triflic acid) salts of h or (R,R)-oxazolidine] to afford (R,S)-i or (R,R)-piperazines, respectively.

A reaction flask is equipped with a magnetic stirrer, a thermocouple, heating mantle, and a inlet. j is charged with THF to a flask. The suspension is cooled at 0-10° C. 1.0 M TBAF in THF (65.6 mL; 66 mmol; 1.0 equiv.) is added over 5 min. The resultant solution is allowed to warm to RT. The reaction solution is diluted with water (250 mL; 10 V) which results in a thick, white suspension. After aging for 1 h, the solid is collected by filtration (paper). The filter-cake is washed with water (3×50 mL), EtOH (2×50 mL), and air-dry to afford k as a fine, yellow-tinted powder.

A reaction flask is equipped with a magnetic stirrer, a thermocouple, heating mantle, and a N₂ inlet. k is charged to the flask. A solution of i is added (2.33 g; 13.5 mmol; 1.5 equiv.) in NMP (19.2 mL; 8 V). The resultant yellow suspension is heated at 90° C. for 10 h. After cooling to RT, the resultant suspension is diluted with water (96 mL; 40 V) and 1.0 M NaOH (9.9 mL; 9.9 mmol; 1.1 equiv.). The suspension is aged for 30 min. The solid is collected by filtration (slow filtration). Wash the filter-cake with water (2×60 mL) and air-dry briefly. Transfer the wet-cake to a suitable flask and remove the remaining water by ACN dilution/concentrations (2×200 mL). Fresh ACN is added (60 mL) and warmed at 80° C. with agitation. The suspension is cooled to RT and the solid is collected by filtration. The filter-cake is washed with ACN (2×10 mL) and air-dried to afford 9 as a fine, white powder.

HPLC: 98.7% AUC (1.3% single impurity)

¹HNMR (DMSO-d₆): conforms to structure; residual ACN.

Crystal Structure of Compound 9

Diffraction data were acquired on a Bruker Apex II diffractometer equipped with a sealed tube Cu Kα source and an Apex II CCD detector.

The structure was solved and refined using the SHELX program (Sheldrick, G. M., Acta Cryst., (2008) A64, 112-122).

Based on systematic absences and intensity statistics, the structure was solved and refined in the orthorhombic unit cell and acentric P2₁2₁2 space group.

The absolute configuration was determined reliably with −0.005 (0.014) Flack's absolute configuration factor. The value is very close to 0 with a small standard deviation. This indicates the absolute configuration is determined reliably.

There is one molecule in the asymmetric unit.

There exists a zigzag one-dimensional infinite chain with R 2,2(9) graph set for the hydrogen bonding synthon structure. There is no hydrogen bonding between such chains, only van der Waals interaction.

Comparison of the simulated and calculated patterns indicates the structure represents the batch.

The structure is fully ordered with a low R factor of 2.3%. We give a score of A for the quality of the structure.

Experimental

Dissolved 20 mg of compound 9 in 1 mL methanol, 4 mL ethanol, added seeds, heated at 80° C. in a sealed vial. Needle shape crystals were obtained over night.

A colorless blade shape crystal with dimensions of 0.30×0.10×0.05 mm³ was selected, mounted on a MicroMount and centered on a Bruker APEX II diffractometer (V011510). Three batches of 40 frames separated in reciprocal space were obtained to provide an orientation matrix and initial cell parameters. The final cell parameters were collected and refined was completed based on the full data set.

A diffraction data set of reciprocal space was obtained to a resolution of 106° 2θ angle using 0.5° steps with exposure times 10 s each frame for low angle frames and 60s each frame for high angle frames. Data were collected at 100 (2) K temperature. Integration of intensities and refinement of cell parameters were conducted using the APEXII software.

The powder X-ray diffraction data were collected on a Bruker D8 Discover diffractometer with Cu Kα0 radiation and a Highstar detector.

Refinement

The structure is fully ordered. Hydrogen atoms were refined using the riding model.

Computing Details

Data collection: Apex II; cell refinement: Apex II; data reduction: Apex II; program(s) used to solve structure: SHELXS97 (Sheldrick, 1990); program(s) used to refine structure: SHELXL97 (Sheldrick, 1997); molecular graphics: Mercury; software used to prepare material for publication: publCIF.

Crystal Data

Crystal Data

C₂₀H₂₄ClFN₆O D_(x) = 1.340 Mg m⁻³ M_(r) = 418.90 Cu Kα radiation, λ = 1.54178 Å Orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2 Cell parameters from 5449 reflections a = 15.0138 (8) Å θ = 3.4-52.8° b = 24.9923 (14) Å μ = 1.91 mm⁻¹ c = 5.5319 (3) Å T = 100 K V = 2075.7 (2) Å³ Blade, colorless Z = 4 0.30 × 0.10 × 0.05 mm F(000) = 880

Data Collection

Bruker APEX-II CCD 2283 reflections with I > 2σ(I) diffractometer Radiation source: fine-focus R_(int) = 0.030 sealed tube graphite θ_(max) = 52.9°, θ_(min) = 3.4° φ and ω scans h = −15→13 8508 measured reflections k = −25→25 2382 independent reflections l = −5→5

Refinement

Refinement on F² Hydrogen site location: inferred from neighbouring sites Least-squares H atoms treated by a mixture of matrix: full independent and constrained refinement R[F² > 2σ(F²)] = 0.023 w = 1/[σ²(F_(o) ²) + (0.0336P)² + 0.3794P] where P = (F_(o) ² + 2F_(c) ²)/3 wR(F²) = 0.059 (Δ/σ)_(max) = 0.004 S = 1.04 Δ 

 _(max) = 0.12 e Å⁻³ 2382 reflections Δ 

 _(min) = −0.11 e Å⁻³ 359 parameters Extinction correction: SHELXL, Fc* = kFc[1 + 0.001 × Fc²λ³/sin(2θ)]^(−1/4) 0 restraints Extinction coefficient: 0.00037 (14) Primary atom site location: Absolute structure: Flack H D (1983), structure-invariant Acta Cryst. A39, 876-881 direct methods Secondary atom site location: Flack parameter: −0.005 (14) difference Fourier map

Special Details

Geometry. All esds (except the esd in the dihedral angle between two l.s. planes) are estimated using the full covariance matrix. The cell esds are taken into account individually in the estimation of esds in distances, angles and torsion angles; correlations between esds in cell parameters are only used when they are defined by crystal symmetry. An approximate (isotropic) treatment of cell esds is used for estimating esds involving l.s. planes.

Refinement. Refinement of F² against ALL reflections. The weighted R-factor wR and goodness of fit S are based on F², conventional R-factors R are based on F, with F set to zero for negative F². The threshold expression of F²>2sigma(F²) is used only for calculating R-factors(gt) etc. and is not relevant to the choice of reflections for refinement. R-factors based on F² are statistically about twice as large as those based on F, and R-factors based on ALL data will be even larger.

TABLE A Fractional atomic coordinates and isotropic or equivalent isotropic displacement parameters (Å²) x y z U_(iso)*/U_(eq) Cl1 1.04404 (4) 0.58029 (2) 0.34143 (10) 0.03616 (19) F1 1.20454 (8) 0.66248 (5) 1.0451 (2) 0.0366 (3) O1 0.68641 (11) 0.57143 (6) 0.4801 (3) 0.0272 (4) N6 0.74240 (12) 0.67589 (7) 0.2358 (4) 0.0249 (5) N1 0.99956 (11) 0.70617 (7) 0.7671 (3) 0.0247 (4) N2 1.14128 (12) 0.75283 (7) 1.2551 (3) 0.0285 (5) N5 0.91316 (11) 0.67077 (7) 0.4524 (3) 0.0237 (4) C1 1.07209 (13) 0.70611 (9) 0.9140 (4) 0.0239 (5) C2 0.86382 (16) 0.72146 (9) 0.4486 (4) 0.0254 (5) C3 0.79085 (14) 0.62439 (9) 0.2451 (4) 0.0236 (5) N3 1.12675 (12) 0.79799 (8) 1.3849 (4) 0.0282 (5) C4 0.98751 (13) 0.66811 (9) 0.6028 (4) 0.0233 (5) C5 1.05189 (14) 0.62702 (8) 0.5716 (4) 0.0271 (5) C6 0.84970 (15) 0.62586 (9) 0.4687 (4) 0.0246 (5) C7 0.72662 (13) 0.57558 (9) 0.2458 (4) 0.0256 (5) C8 1.07779 (13) 0.75034 (8) 1.0867 (4) 0.0240 (5) N4 1.02367 (11) 0.87124 (7) 1.3936 (3) 0.0288 (5) C9 1.05411 (14) 0.82485 (9) 1.3027 (4) 0.0253 (5) C10 0.78037 (15) 0.52250 (9) 0.2120 (4) 0.0272 (6) C11 0.94497 (14) 0.81731 (9) 0.9897 (4) 0.0285 (6) C12 1.13329 (13) 0.66481 (9) 0.8951 (4) 0.0270 (5) C13 1.12472 (15) 0.62587 (10) 0.7230 (4) 0.0293 (6) C14 0.65471 (15) 0.58205 (11) 0.0558 (4) 0.0286 (5) C15 0.95206 (15) 0.88963 (9) 1.2770 (4) 0.0327 (6) C16 1.01947 (13) 0.79594 (9) 1.1065 (4) 0.0247 (5) C17 0.80485 (15) 0.72167 (9) 0.2276 (4) 0.0269 (6) C18 0.72073 (19) 0.47349 (12) 0.2330 (7) 0.0439 (7) C19 0.91192 (16) 0.86462 (9) 1.0796 (4) 0.0324 (6) C20 0.83300 (19) 0.52023 (12) −0.0247 (5) 0.0398 (7) H1 0.8284 (13) 0.6202 (8) 0.108 (4) 0.014 (5)* H2 0.8286 (13) 0.7276 (8) 0.603 (4) 0.021 (6)* H3 0.8822 (12) 0.5928 (8) 0.486 (3) 0.010 (5)* H4 0.6810 (15) 0.5897 (9) −0.100 (5) 0.035 (6)* H5 0.6204 (14) 0.5493 (9) 0.044 (4) 0.030 (6)* H6 0.7118 (14) 0.6754 (9) 0.102 (4) 0.023 (6)* H7 0.7682 (13) 0.7558 (8) 0.218 (3) 0.014 (5)* H8 0.9025 (14) 0.7517 (9) 0.432 (4) 0.023 (6)* H9 0.8398 (14) 0.7190 (8) 0.080 (4) 0.017 (5)* H10 0.8252 (14) 0.5220 (7) 0.353 (4) 0.017 (5)* H11 0.6125 (15) 0.6120 (9) 0.096 (4) 0.032 (6)* H12 0.8104 (14) 0.6294 (8) 0.618 (4) 0.022 (5)* H13 0.6865 (19) 0.4754 (10) 0.378 (5) 0.052 (8)* H14 1.1690 (15) 0.5983 (9) 0.697 (4) 0.032 (6)* H15 0.684 (2) 0.4701 (12) 0.097 (6) 0.064 (9)* H16 0.9303 (14) 0.9226 (9) 1.342 (4) 0.033 (6)* H17 0.9200 (14) 0.8009 (8) 0.854 (4) 0.027 (6)* H18 0.882 (2) 0.5493 (13) −0.039 (6) 0.082 (10)* H19 0.8631 (15) 0.4848 (10) −0.038 (4) 0.033 (6)* H20 0.6366 (19) 0.5853 (12) 0.489 (6) 0.061 (10)* H24 0.7569 (15) 0.4408 (10) 0.243 (4) 0.032 (6)* H22 0.8643 (15) 0.8801 (9) 1.003 (4) 0.034 (6)* H21 1.1660 (19) 0.8064 (11) 1.524 (5) 0.058 (8)* H23 0.7900 (17) 0.5223 (9) −0.164 (5) 0.047 (7)*

TABLE B Atomic displacement parameters (Å²) U¹¹ U²² U³³ U¹² U¹³ U²³ Cl1 0.0319 (3) 0.0383 (3) 0.0383 (3) 0.0041 (3) 0.0019 (3) −0.0099 (3) F1 0.0253 (7) 0.0380 (8) 0.0465 (8) 0.0030 (6) −0.0099 (6) −0.0001 (7) O1 0.0256 (9) 0.0357 (10) 0.0202 (8) 0.0003 (8) 0.0018 (7) 0.0010 (7) N6 0.0251 (11) 0.0279 (12) 0.0216 (11) 0.0006 (9) −0.0032 (9) 0.0011 (9) N1 0.0217 (10) 0.0266 (11) 0.0256 (10) −0.0037 (8) 0.0005 (9) 0.0018 (9) N2 0.0254 (11) 0.0312 (11) 0.0290 (11) −0.0024 (8) −0.0017 (9) 0.0020 (10) N5 0.0228 (10) 0.0239 (10) 0.0244 (9) 0.0001 (8) −0.0006 (8) 0.0010 (8) C1 0.0201 (12) 0.0271 (13) 0.0244 (12) −0.0027 (9) 0.0001 (10) 0.0042 (11) C2 0.0254 (13) 0.0249 (14) 0.0258 (14) −0.0002 (11) 0.0006 (11) 0.0011 (11) C3 0.0253 (12) 0.0298 (14) 0.0156 (12) 0.0053 (10) 0.0034 (11) 0.0014 (10) N3 0.0255 (11) 0.0323 (11) 0.0268 (11) −0.0009 (9) −0.0031 (9) −0.0005 (10) C4 0.0198 (12) 0.0273 (12) 0.0226 (12) −0.0028 (10) 0.0027 (10) 0.0047 (11) C5 0.0244 (12) 0.0263 (12) 0.0305 (13) −0.0013 (10) 0.0039 (11) 0.0008 (10) C6 0.0242 (13) 0.0255 (14) 0.0240 (13) 0.0013 (10) −0.0003 (11) 0.0017 (11) C7 0.0259 (12) 0.0297 (13) 0.0214 (12) 0.0014 (10) 0.0014 (9) −0.0016 (10) C8 0.0187 (12) 0.0292 (13) 0.0239 (13) −0.0043 (10) −0.0004 (10) 0.0050 (10) N4 0.0225 (11) 0.0351 (12) 0.0288 (10) −0.0035 (9) 0.0044 (8) −0.0029 (9) C9 0.0219 (12) 0.0301 (13) 0.0240 (12) −0.0043 (11) 0.0036 (11) 0.0032 (11) C10 0.0254 (13) 0.0306 (14) 0.0257 (13) 0.0008 (10) −0.0045 (11) −0.0015 (11) C11 0.0237 (13) 0.0323 (14) 0.0296 (13) −0.0060 (11) −0.0028 (12) 0.0009 (11) C12 0.0189 (12) 0.0321 (14) 0.0300 (13) −0.0038 (11) −0.0062 (11) 0.0047 (12) C13 0.0234 (13) 0.0290 (14) 0.0354 (14) 0.0025 (11) 0.0031 (12) 0.0039 (12) C14 0.0265 (13) 0.0340 (15) 0.0252 (14) 0.0008 (13) −0.0043 (11) −0.0036 (12) C15 0.0279 (14) 0.0305 (15) 0.0397 (15) 0.0003 (12) 0.0052 (13) −0.0042 (12) C16 0.0196 (13) 0.0291 (13) 0.0254 (12) −0.0047 (10) 0.0019 (10) 0.0028 (11) C17 0.0275 (14) 0.0287 (15) 0.0244 (14) 0.0036 (11) 0.0025 (12) 0.0041 (11) C18 0.0374 (17) 0.0312 (17) 0.063 (2) 0.0016 (13) −0.0040 (17) −0.0067 (15) C19 0.0235 (13) 0.0330 (15) 0.0408 (15) 0.0017 (11) −0.0040 (12) 0.0010 (12) C20 0.0493 (17) 0.0403 (18) 0.0299 (15) 0.0156 (14) 0.0038 (14) −0.0062 (13)

TABLE C Geometric parameters (Å, °) Cl1—C5 1.732 (2) C3—C7 1.555 (3) F1—C12 1.355 (2) N3—C9 1.359 (3) O1—C7 1.434 (2) C4—C5 1.421 (3) N6—C3 1.479 (3) C5—C13 1.377 (3) N6—C17 1.480 (3) C7—C14 1.515 (3) N1—C4 1.328 (3) C7—C10 1.564 (3) N1—C1 1.359 (3) C8—C16 1.441 (3) N2—C8 1.334 (3) N4—C15 1.335 (3) N2—N3 1.355 (3) N4—C9 1.344 (3) N5—C4 1.394 (3) C9—C16 1.404 (3) N5—C2 1.468 (3) C10—C18 1.522 (3) N5—C6 1.475 (3) C10—C20 1.530 (3) C1—C12 1.386 (3) C11—C19 1.375 (3) C1—C8 1.463 (3) C11—C16 1.398 (3) C2—C17 1.509 (3) C12—C13 1.368 (3) C3—C6 1.520 (3) C15—C19 1.395 (3) C3—N6—C17 111.23 (17) O1—C7—C10 105.31 (17) C4—N1—C1 121.17 (17) C14—C7—C10 112.04 (18) C8—N2—N3 107.09 (17) C3—C7—C10 110.19 (17) C4—N5—C2 116.98 (17) N2—C8—C16 110.11 (18) C4—N5—C6 116.39 (16) N2—C8—C1 122.21 (18) C2—N5—C6 109.38 (17) C16—C8—C1 127.68 (18) N1—C1—C12 119.15 (19) C15—N4—C9 112.96 (19) N1—C1—C8 115.88 (18) N4—C9—N3 125.0 (2) C12—C1—C8 124.96 (19) N4—C9—C16 127.4 (2) N5—C2—C17 108.08 (18) N3—C9—C16 107.57 (19) N6—C3—C6 107.03 (18) C18—C10—C20 109.8 (2) N6—C3—C7 112.19 (17) C18—C10—C7 111.72 (19) C6—C3—C7 112.17 (17) C20—C10—C7 113.59 (19) N2—N3—C9 111.29 (18) C19—C11—C16 116.7 (2) N1—C4—N5 118.91 (18) F1—C12—C13 118.04 (19) N1—C4—C5 120.54 (18) F1—C12—C1 120.60 (19) N5—C4—C5 120.45 (18) C13—C12—C1 121.3 (2) C13—C5—C4 118.8 (2) C12—C13—C5 118.9 (2) C13—C5—Cl1 119.12 (17) N4—C15—C19 124.9 (2) C4—C5—Cl1 122.03 (16) C11—C16—C9 117.2 (2) N5—C6—C3 110.12 (18) C11—C16—C8 138.8 (2) O1—C7—C14 109.56 (17) C9—C16—C8 103.93 (18) O1—C7—C3 108.67 (16) N6—C17—C2 110.14 (18) C14—C7—C3 110.88 (18) C11—C19—C15 120.8 (2)

The following compounds can be synthesized, in general, based on a similar route to that outlined in Example 1, 2 and 3, Compounds 2-8, 10-35 and 37-45.

Similar methods are described in PCT Application No. PCT/US2009/051437 filed Jul. 22, 2009 entitled “TRI-CYCLIC PYRAZOLOPYRIDINE KINASE INHIBITORS” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Table 2 depicts data for certain exemplary compounds made in general by a similar route to that outlined in the above Examples.

TABLE 2 M + 1 RT No. (obs) (min) 1H-NMR 1 403 7.47 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) d 13.99 (s, 1H), 8.77 (dd, J = 8.1, 1.4 Hz, 1H), 8.60 (dd, J = 4.4, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.92 (dd, J = 12.1, 9.8 Hz, 1H), 7.30 (dd, J = 8.1, 4.5 Hz, 1H), 4.14 (s, 1H), 4.04 (d, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H), 3.77 (d, J = 8.6 Hz, 1H), 3.09 (d, J = 8.9 Hz, 1H), 2.84 (d, J = 9.1 Hz, 2H), 2.74 (d, J = 7.4 Hz, 2H), 1.81 (dt, J = 13.5, 6.8 Hz, 2H), 1.05 (s, 3H), 0.87 (dd, J = 23.8, 6.7 Hz, 6H). 2 401.2 2.36 1H (DMSO) d 0.15 (d, 1H), 0.20 (d, 1H), 0.89 (s, 3H), 0.96 (s, 3H), 1.53 (bs, 1H, NH), 2.24-2.31 (m, 1H), 2.64-2.72 (m, 2H), 2.79 (t, 1H), 2.91 (d, 1H), 3.58-3.63 (m, 2H), 4.70 (s, 1H, OH), 7.10 (dd, 1H), 7.72 (dd, 1H), 8.40 (dd, 1H), 8.55 (1H, dd), 13.80 (bs, 1H), NH) ppm 3 403 7.67 4 401 7.42 5 401 7.52 6 389 7.17 1H NMR (CD3OD) 1.05 (3H, t), 1.28-1.32 (4H, m), 1.60-1.85 (2H, m), 2.98 (3H, m), 3.10-3.15 (2H, m), 4.05-4.10 (1H, m), 4.30-4.35 (1H, m), 7.40-7.45 (1H, dd), 7.70-7.80 (1H, dd), 8.70 (1H, d), 9.00 (1H, d). 7 389 1.68 (CD3OD) 1.01 (6H, d), 1.25-1.35 (1H, m), 1.85-1.95 (1H, m), 1.85-1.90 (1H, m), 2.95-3.10 (2H, m), 3.20 (1H, M), 3.70 (1H, s), 3.92-3.97 (1H, m), 4.20-4.25 (1H, d), 7.33-7.36 (1H, dd), 7.59-7.64 (1H, m), 8.57-8.59 (1H, d), 8.87-8.89 (1H, d). 8 375 6.91 DMSO-d6 0.89-0.93 (3H, m), 1.3-1.4 (1H, m), 1.55-1.60 (1H, m), 2.65-2.70 (2H, m) 2.80-3.00 (2H, m), 3.02-3.07 (1H, m), 3.25-3.30 (1H, m), 3.50 (1H, s), 3.75-3.80 (1H, m), 4.03-4.08 (1H, m), 4.59-4.61 (1H, m), 7.29-7.32 (1H, d), 7.90-7.95 (1H, dd), 8.59-8.60 (1H, d), 8.76-8.79 (1H, d), 13.95-13.90 (1H, s). 9 419 8.27 (CD3OD) 0.97-1.03 (6H, dd), 1.21 (3H, s), 1.93-1.94 (1H, m), 2.80-2.86 (1H, t), 3.00-3.08 (2H, m), 3.22-3.25 (1H, m), 3.71-3.75 (1H, d), 3.99-4.03 (1H, d), 7.32-7.35 (1H, d), 7.83-7.86 (1H, d), 8.58-8.59 (1H, d), 8.90-8.92 (1H, d). 10 (DMSO, 400 MHz) 0.83 (3H, s), 0.94 (3H, s), 1.09 (3H, s), 1.87 (1H, sept), 3.15-3.50 (5H, m), 4.18 (1H, d), 4.38 (1H, d), 7.37 (1H, dd), 8.46 (1H, d), 8.66 (1H, dd), 8.71 (1H, d), 14.40 (1H, br s). 11 421.2 2.35 1H (DMSO) d 1.24 (d, 3H), 1.36 (d, 3H), 1.42 (d, 3H), 2.59-2.67 (m, 1H), 2.88-2.93 (m, 2H), 2.98 (dd, 1H), 3.14 (d, 1H), 3.78 (d, 1H), 4.09 (d, 1H), 4.86 (s, 1H, OH), 7.25 (dd, 1H), 7.92 (dd, 1H), 8.58 (dd, 1H), 8.74 (dd, 1H), 13.99 (bs, 1H, NH) ppm 12 421.2 2.31 1H (DMSO) d 1.21 (s, 3H), 1.40 (t, 6H), 1.97 (bs, 1H, NH), 2.75-2.95 (m, 4H), 3.06 (d, 1H), 3.76 (d, 1H), 4.16 (d, 1H), 4.77 (s, 1H, OH), 7.30 (dd, 1H), 7.92 (dd, 1H), 8.59 (dd, 1H), 8.82 (dd, 1H), 13.97 (bs, 1H, NH) ppm 13 429 0.77 (d6-DMSO, 400 MHz) 1.49 (3H, s), 3.15-3.20 (1H, m), 3.21-3.45 (3H, m), 3.78 (1H, brs), 4.11 (1H, d), 4.19 (1H, d), 7.30 (1H, dd), 7.45 (brs), 8.08 (1H, dd), 8.62-8.64 (2H, m), 8.92 (1H, brs), 9.09 (1H, brs), 14.09 (1H, brs) 14 429 0.73 (d6-DMSO, 400 MHz) 1.49 (3H, s), 3.18 (1H, t), 3.27-3.33 (1H, m), 3.37-3.45 (2H, m), 3.79 (1H, t), 4.11 (1H, d), 4.19 (1H, d), 7.29 (1H, dd), 7.44 (1H, s), 8.09 (1H, dd), 8.62 (2H, m), 8.91 (1H, brs), 9.05 (1H, brs), 14.09 (1H, brs) 15 443 8.35 1H NMR (CD3OD) 1.30 (3H, s), 2.30-2.60 (1H, m), 2.65-2.80 (1H, m), 2.85-2.95 (2H, m), 3.00-3.10 (1H, m), 3.80-3.85 (1H, m), 4.05-4.10 (1H, m), 7.25 (1H, d), 7.50-7.55 (1H, m), 8.46-8.48 (1H, d), 8.73-8.76 (1H, d). 16 405 6.97 1H NMR (CD3OD) 1.32 (3H, s), 3.20-3.25 (1H t), 3.30-3.45 (5H, masked), 3.63-3.67 (1H, m), 4.21-4.25 (1H, m), 4.35-4.39 (1H, m), 7.32-7.35 (1H, dd), 7.71-7.76 (1H, dd), 8.60-8.62 (1H, d), 8.74-8.76 (1H, d). 17 405 6.89 H NMR (400.0 MHz, DMSO) d 13.99 (s, 1H, NH), 8.79 (dd, J = 1.4, 8.1 Hz, 1H), 8.60 (dd, J = 1.5, 4.5 Hz, 1H), 7.93 (dd, J = 9.9, 12.0 Hz, 1H), 7.30 (dd, J = 4.5, 8.1 Hz, 1H), 3.98-3.92 (m, 1H), 3.80-3.77 (m, 1H), 3.77 (s, 1H, OH), 3.38-3.32 (m, 1H), 3.27-3.24 (m, 4H), 3.08 (d, 1H), 2.87-2.67 (m, 4H), 2.15 (bs, 1H, NH) and 1.16 (s, 3H) ppm 18 391 7.44 19 391 7.48 H NMR (400.0 MHz, DMSO) d 0.92 (t, 3H), 1.34 (septet, 1H), 1.56-1.65 (m, 1H), 2.61 (t, 1H), 2.67-2.72 (m, 1H), 2.82-2.92 (m, 2H), 3.03-3.06 (m, 1H), 3.26-3.34 (masked signal, 1H), 3.58 (d, 1H), 3.87 (d, 1H), 4.56 (d, 1H), 7.34 (dd, 1H), 8.11 (d, 1H), 8.61 (dd, 1H), 8.81 (dd, 1H) and 14.10 (br s, 1H) ppm 20 405 1.05 1H (DMSO-d6) 0.89-0.96 (6H, dd), 1.85-1.90 (1H, m), 2.60-2.65 (1H, m), 2.78-2.82 (1H, m), 2.88-2.93 (1H, m), 3.10-3.15 (1H, m), 3.20 (1H, m), 3.65-3.67 (1H, m), 3.92-3.95 (1H, m), 4.54-4.54 (1H, m), 7.40-7.43 (1H, m), 8.14-8.16 (1H, d), 8.70 (1H, s), 8.75 (1H, d), 21 405 1.06 1H (DMSO-d6) 0.91-0.95 (6H, m), 1.80-1.85 (1H, m), 2.70-2.75 (1H, m), 2.85-3.00 (2H, m), 3.10-3.20 (2H, m), 3.65-3.67 (2H, m), 4.65-4.68 (1H, m), 7.37-7.40 (1H, m), 8.15-8.18 (1H, d), 8.64-8.66 (1H, d), 8.81 (1H, d), 14.1-1.2 (1H, br s) 22 373 2.42 (d6-DMSO, 400 MHz) 0.99 (3H, d), 1.06 (3H, d), 1.75-1.80 (1H, m), 1.93-1.96 (1H, m), 2.16-2.21 (1H, m), 3.07-3.17 (2H, m), 3.43 (1H, t), 3.62-3.66 (1H, m), 3.83 (2H, brs), 7.28 (1H, dd), 7.81-7.88 (4H, m), 8.59 (1H, dd), 8.76 (1H, d), 13.96 (1H, brs) 23 389.17 2.54 H NMR (400.0 MHz, DMSO) d 0.99 (d, 3H), 1.06 (d, 3H), 1.71-1.79 (m, 1H), 1.91-1.99 (m, 1H), 2.20 (qn, 1H), 3.13-3.20 (m, 1H), 3.59 (t, 2H), 3.73-3.85 (m, 3H), 7.29 (dd, 1H), 7.89 (br s, NH3+, 3H), 7.99 (d, 1H), 8.60 (dd, 1H), 8.76 (dd, 1H) and 14.07 (s, 1H) ppm 24 389.17 2.6 H NMR (400.0 MHz, DMSO) d 0.96 (d, 3H), 1.06 (d, 3H), 1.79 (quintet, 1H), 2.01-2.15 (m, 2H), 3.14 (br m, 1H), 3.20-3.60 (masked signal, 1H), 3.63 (t, 1H), 3.71 (t, 1H), 3.79-3.86 (m, 2H), 7.32 (dd, 1H), 7.83 (s, NH3+, 3H), 8.00 (d, 1H), 8.61 (dd, 1H), 8.76 (dd, 1H) and 14.07 (s, 1H) ppm 25 375.2 2.28 1H NMR (400.0 MHz, DMSO) d 14.00 (bs, 1H, NH), 8.73 (dd, J = 1.5, 8.1 Hz, 1H), 8.60 (dd, J = 1.5, 4.5 Hz, 1H), 7.93 (dd, J = 9.9, 12.1 Hz, 1H), 7.30 (dd, J = 4.5, 8.1 Hz, 1H), 4.67 (d, J = 5.6 Hz, 1H), 3.82-3.74 (m, 2H), 3.35-3.30 (m, 2H), 3.09-3.03 (m, 1H), 2.98-2.91 (m, 1H), 2.86-2.80 (m, 1H), 2.73-2.68 (m, 2H), 2.33-2.28 (bs, 1H, NH), 1.57-1.53 (m, 1H), 1.38-1.34 (m, 1H) and 0.92 (t, J = 7.4 Hz, 3H) ppm 26 419 8.69 1H NMR (dmso-d6) 0.98 (9H, s), 2.80-3.00 (4H, m), 3.10-3.25 (2H, m), 3.60-3.64 (1H, m), 3.82-3.85 (1H, m), 7.34-7.38 (1H, dd), 8.13-8.16 (1H, d), 8.64-8.66 (1H, dd), 8.85-8.88 (1H, dd)., 27 403 8.23 1H NMR (CD3OD) 1.01 (9H, s), 2.95-3.20 (56H, m), 3.90-3.95 (1H, d), 4.10-.4-15 (1H, d), 7.29-7.32 (1H, d), 7.59 (1H, dd), 8.55-8.57 (1H, d), 8.83-8.84 (1H, d) 28 373.18 2.44 H NMR (400.0 MHz, DMSO) d 0.87 (d, 3H), 0.95 (d, 3H), 1.58-1.60 (m, 1H), 1.69-1.76 (m, 1H), 2.13 - 2.28 (m, 2H), 2.46 (dd, 1H), 3.32-3.36 (masked signal, 1H), 3.57-3.64 (m, 1H), 3.70-3.80 (m, 2H), 7.29 (dd, 1H), 7.79 (dd, 1H), 8.57 (dd, 1H) and 8.75 (dd, 1H) ppm 29 387 1.77 1H NMR (dmso) 0.28-.029 (2H, s), 0.35-0.37 (1H, m), 0.39-0.40 (1H, m), 0.97-0.99 (1H, m), 2.80-2.95 (5H, m), 3.06-3.09 (1H, m), 3.77-3.79 (1H, m), 4.04-4.0 (1H, m), 4.72 (1H, s), 7.28-7.31 (1H, d), 7.90-7.96 (1H, dd), 8.59-8.60 (1H, d), 8.78-8.80 (1H, m), 13.90-1.40 (1H, s). 30 417 0.64 (d6-DMSO, 400 MHz) 0.26-0.30 (3H, m), 0.45-0.48 (1H, m), 0.93-1.03 (1H, m), 1.11 (3H, s), 2.75-2.93 (3H, m), 3.12 (1H, d), 3.63 (1H, d), 3.92 (1H, d), 4.10 (1H, brs), 7.32 (1H, dd), 8.13 (1H, d), 8.62 (1H, dd), 8.85 (1H, dd), 14.10 (1H, brs) 31 403 1.91 1H NMR (DMSO-d6) 0.0-0.05 (2H, m), 0.07-0.10 (1H, m), 0.20-0.25 (1H, m), 0.70-0.80 (2H, m), 2.50-2.70 (4H, m), 2.82-2.90 (1H, m), 3.30-3.40 (1H, m), 3.60-3.65 (1H, m), 7.07-7.10 (1H, d), 7.85-7.88 (1H, m), 8.36-8.37 (1H, d), 8.57-8.59 (1H, d). 32 401 0.51 (d6-DMSO, 400 MHz) 0.84 (3H, d), 0.94 (3H, d), 1.09 (2H, s), 1.76-1.88 (1H, m), 2.89 (1H, t), 3.13-3.20 (1H, m), 3.27-3.39 (3H, m), 4.08 (1H, d), 4.33 (1H, d), 5.20 (1H, brs), 7.17 (1H, d), 7.26 (1H, dd), 8.33-8.40 (1H, m), 8.55-8.59 (2H, m), 8.66 (1H, dd), 11.00 (1H, brs), 13.83 (1H, brs) 33 421.1 2.35 H NMR (400.0 MHz, DMSO) d 14.10 (bs, 1H, NH), 8.83 (dd, J = 1.6, 8.1 Hz, 1H), 8.62 (dd, J = 1.5, 4.5 Hz, 1H), 8.12 (d, J = 9.8 Hz, 1H), 7.33 (dd, J = 4.5, 8.1 Hz, 1H), 4.57 (s, 1H), 3.77 (d, J = 11.3 Hz, 1H), 3.61 (d, J = 9.0 Hz, 1H), 3.35 (d, J = 11.0 Hz, 1H), 3.28-3.23 (m, 4H), 3.11-3.08 (m, 1H), 2.86-2.79 (m, 3H), 2.73-2.67 (m, 1H), 2.12 (bs, 1H, NH) and 1.16 (s, 3H) ppm 34 410 0.98 H NMR (400.0 MHz, DMSO) d 14.28 (s, 1H), 8.80-8.57 (m, 3H), 8.28 (d, 1H), 7.35 (dd, J = 4.5, 8.1 Hz, 1H), 4.81-4.37 (m, 2H), 3.57-3.21 (m, 5H), 1.96-1.81 (m, 1H), 1.06 (d, J = 4.9 Hz, 3H), 0.93 (d, J = 6.6 Hz, 3H) and 0.67 (d, J = 6.8 Hz, 3H) ppm 35 410 0.98 H NMR (400.0 MHz, DMSO) d 14.28 (s, 1H), 8.85-8.53 (m, 4H), 8.28 (s, 1H), 7.34 (dd, J = 4.5, 8.1 Hz, 1H), 4.70-4.47 (m, 2H), 3.56-3.21 (m, 5H), 1.14 (s, 3H) and 0.88-0.79 (m, 6H) ppm 36 380 0.59 H NMR (400.0 MHz, DMSO) d 14.19 (s, 1H), 8.72 (dd, J = 1.3, 8.1 Hz, 1H), 8.62 (dd, J = 1.5, 4.5 Hz, 1H), 8.03 (s, 1H), 7.88 (d, J = 3.0 Hz, 3H), 7.32 (dd, J = 4.5, 8.1 Hz, 1H), 4.05-4.00 (m, 2H), 3.75-3.11 (m, 3H), 2.60-2.50 (m, 1H), 2.26-2.18 (m, 1H), 2.01-1.74 (m, 2H), 1.06 (d, J = 6.9 Hz, 3H) and 1.00 (d, J = 7.0 Hz, 3H) ppm 37 380 0.59 H NMR (400.0 MHz, DMSO) d 14.31 (s, 1H), 8.79 (d, 1H), 8.65 (m, 1H), 8.25 (d, 1H), 7.85 (brs, 3H), 7.35 (dd, 1H), 4.04-3.94 (m, 2H), 3.82-3.71 (m, 1H), 3.62-3.15 (m, 2H), 2.71-2.44 (m, 1H), 2.29-2.18 (m, 1H), 2.01-1.75 (m, 2H), 1.08 (d, 3H) and 1.01 (d, 3H) ppm 38 419 0.67 (d6-DMSO, 400 MHz) 0.91 (6H, dd), 1.07 (3H, s), 1.91-1.98 (1H, m), 2.63-2.71 (1H, m), 2.88-2.93 (2H, m), 3.18 (1H, d), 3.63 (1H, d), 3.78 (1H, d), 4.13 (1H, s), 7.37 (1H, dd), 8.15 (1H, d), 8.65 (1H, dd), 8.83 (1H, d), 14.12 (1H, brs) 39 419 1.77 40 419 2 41 419 2.05 42 435 2.54 43 (DMSO, 400 MHz) 0.77 (3H, d), 0.89 (3H, d), 1.05 (3H, s), 1.83 (1H, sept), 2.70-3.20 (5H, m), 4.31 (1H, d), 4.65 (1H, d), 7.34 (1H, dd), 8.11 (1H, d), 8.63 (1H, d), 8.70 (1H, d), 14.22 (1H, br s). 44 415.2 2.05 H NMR (400.0 MHz, DMSO) d 14.01 (bs, 1H, NH), 8.82 (d, 1H), 8.60 (dd, 1H), 7.79 (d, 1H), 7.30 (d, 1H), 5.54 (t, 1H), 4.60-4.50 (m, 2H), 4.28 (bs, 1H), 3.48-3.36 (m, 2H), 3.18-3.13 (m, 1H), 2.98-2.89 (m, 2H), 2.73-2.66 (m, 1H), 1.83-1.76 (m, 1H), 1.06 (s, 3H), 0.91 (d, 3H) and 0.85 (d, 3H) ppm 45 435 2.23

In general, compounds of the invention, including compounds in Table 1, are effective for the inhibition of PKCtheta. Selectivity for inhibition of PKCtheta by the compounds of the invention was tested and the results are shown in the following Example. The data obtained shows values for PKCtheta isoform selectivity by showing Ki potencies for PKCtheta, PKCdelta and PKCalpha.

Example 4 PKC Theta

An assay buffer solution was prepared which consisted of 100 mM HEPES (pH 7.5), 10 mM MgCl₂, 25 mM NaCl, 0.1 mM EDTA and 0.01% Brij. An enzyme buffer containing reagents to final assay concentrations of 0.00001% Triton X-100, 200 μg/mL Phosphatidylserine, 20 μg/mL Diacylglycerol, 360 μM NADH, 3 mM phosphoenolpyruvate, 70 μg/mL pyruvate kinase, 24 g/m L lactate dehydrogenase, 2 mM DTT, 100 μM substrate peptide (ERMRPRKRQGSVRRRV SEQ ID NO. 1) and 18 nM PKC theta kinase was prepared in assay buffer. To 60 μL of this enzyme buffer, in a 384 well plate, was added 2 μl, of VRT stock solution in DMSO. The mixture was allowed to equilibrate for 10 mins' at 30° C. The enzyme reaction was initiated by the addition of 5 μL stock ATP solution prepared in assay buffer to a final assay concentration of 240 μM. Initial rate data was determined from the rate of change of absorbance at 340 nM (corresponding to stoichiometric consumption of NADH) using a Molecular Devices Spectramax plate reader (Sunnyvale, Calif.) over 15 mins at 30° C. For each Ki determination 12 data points covering the VRT concentration range of 0-20 μM were obtained in duplicate (DMSO stocks were prepared from an initial 10 mM VRT stock with subsequent 1:2 serial dilutions). Kil values were calculated from initial rate data by non-linear regression using the Prism software package (Prism 4.0a, Graphpad Software, San Diego, Calif.). Ki values are represented as A*<0.001 μM, A**<0.01 μM, A<0.05 μM, B<0.5 μM, B*>0.7 μM, C*>1.25 μM, C**>2.0 μM, C<2.8 μM, D>2.8 μM, D*>4 μM.

A compounds are: 10, 16-18, 21-22, 24-25, 33-34, 37-39 and 43.

A* compounds are: 1, 2, 3-9, 11-15, 19-20, 23, 26-32, 40-42, and 44.

B compounds are 35, 36 and 45.

PKC Delta

An assay buffer solution was prepared which consisted of 100 mM HEPES (pH 7.5), 10 mM MgCl₂, 25 mM NaCl, 0.1 mM EDTA and 0.01% Brij. An enzyme buffer containing reagents to final assay concentrations of 0.002% Triton X-100, 200 μg/mL Phosphatidylserine, 20 μg/mL Diacylglycerol, 360 μM NADH, 3 mM phosphoenolpyruvate, 70 μg/mL pyruvate kinase, 24 μg/mL lactate dehydrogenase, 2 mM DTT, 150 μM substrate peptide (ERMRPRKRQGSVRRRV SEQ ID NO. 2) and 46 nM PKC delta kinase was prepared in assay buffer. To 16 μL of this enzyme buffer, in a 384 well plate, was added 1 μL of VRT stock solution in DMSO. The mixture was allowed to equilibrate for 10 mins at 30° C. The enzyme reaction was initiated by the addition of 16 μL stock ATP solution prepared in assay buffer to a final assay concentration of 150 μM. Initial rate data was determined from the rate of change of absorbance at 340 nM (corresponding to stoichiometric consumption of NADH) using a Molecular Devices Spectramax plate reader (Sunnyvale, Calif.) over 15 mins at 30° C. For each Ki determination 12 data points covering the VRT concentration range of 0-20 μM were obtained in duplicate (DMSO stocks were prepared from an initial 10 mM VRT stock with subsequent 1:2 serial dilutions). Ki values were calculated from initial rate data by non-linear regression using the Prism software package (Prism 4.0a, Graphpad Software, San Diego, Calif.).

A compounds are: 1, 5-9, 12, 15, 19-20, 23, 28, 29, 31, 40 and 42.

A** compounds are: 2, 11, 26, 27, 30, 32, and 44.

B compounds are: 3-4, 10, 13-14, 16-18, 21-22, 24, 25, 33, 37, 38, 39 and 41.

C* compounds are: 34-36 43, and 45.

PKC Alpha

An assay buffer solution was prepared which consisted of 100 mM HEPES (pH 7.5), 10 mM MgCl₂, 25 mM NaCl, 0.1 mM EDTA, 100 μM CaCl₂ and 0.01% Brij. An enzyme buffer containing reagents to final assay concentrations of 0.002% Triton X-100, 100 μg/mL Phosphatidylserine, 20 μg/mL Diacylglycerol, 360 μM NADH, 3 mM phosphoenolpyruvate, 70 mg/mL pyruvate kinase, 24 μg/mL lactate dehydrogenase, 2 mM DTT, 150 μM substrate peptide (RRRRRKGSFKRKA SEQ ID NO. 1) and 4.5 nM PKC alpha kinase was prepared in assay buffer. To 16 μL it of this enzyme buffer, in a 384 well plate, was added 1 μL of VRT stock solution in DMSO. The mixture was allowed to equilibrate for 10 mins at 30° C. The enzyme reaction was initiated by the addition of 16 μL stock ATP solution prepared in assay buffer to a final assay concentration of 130 μM. Initial rate data was determined from the rate of change of absorbance at 340 nM (corresponding to stoichiometric consumption of NADH) using a Molecular Devices Spectramax plate reader (Sunnyvale, Calif.) over 15 mins at 30° C. For each Ki determination 12 data points covering the VRT concentration range of 0-20 μM were obtained in duplicate (DMSO stocks were prepared from an initial 10 mM VRT stock with subsequent 1:2 serial dilutions). Ki values were calculated from initial rate data by non-linear regression using the Prism software package (Prism 4.0a, Graphpad Software, San Diego, Calif.).

B compounds are: 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 20, 23, 26-30, 32, 40, 41, and 44.

C compounds are: 3, 6, 8, 11, 13-14, 17, 19, 21-22, 31, 37, 38, and 42.

C* compounds are: 4, 10, 16, 18, 24, 25, 33-36, 39, 43 and 45.

While we have described a number of embodiments of this invention, it is apparent that our basic examples may be altered to provide other embodiments that utilize the compounds, methods, and processes of this invention. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of this invention is to be defined by the appended claims rather than by the specific embodiments that have been represented by way of example herein. 

We claim:
 1. A compound represented by the following structural formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: T is —NH— or absent; each J_(c1) and J_(c2) is independently —CN, —F, —Cl, —OR, —CH₂OR, or —CF₃; each U₁, U₂, and U₃ is independently —H, Z, or J_(b) wherein no more than one of U₁, U₂, and U₃ is —H; or two of U₁, U₂, and U₃ join together to form a C1-C6 cyloalkyl ring having 0-1 heteroatoms independently substituted with one or more J_(c); Z is Y2-Q2; Y2 is absent or C1-6 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(d); Q2 is absent or C3-C8 cyloalkyl having 0-1 heteroatoms optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(e), wherein Y2 and Q2 are not both absent; each J_(b) is independently —F, —OR, —CN, —CF₃, —N(R)₂, —C(O)N(R)₂, C1-6 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(a); each J_(a) is independently —F, —OR, —N(R)₂, or —C(O)N(R)₂; each J_(d) is independently —OR, —CN, —C(O)N(R)₂, —N(R)₂ or F; each J_(e) is independently C1-C6 alkyl, —OR, —N(R)₂ CF₃, or F; each R is —H or C1-C6 alkyl; and wherein there is a chiral center at the carbon indicated by *.
 2. The compound of claim 1, wherein U₁ is Z and U₃ is J_(b).
 3. The compound of claim 2, wherein U₁ and U₂ are Z and U₃ is J_(b).
 4. The compound of claim 1, wherein Y2 is C1-C3 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(d); Q2 is absent or C3-C6 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(c); and each J_(d) is independently —OR, or F.
 5. The compound of claim 4, wherein J_(b) is —OH or —NH₂.
 6. The compound of claim 5, wherein J_(b) is —OH.
 7. The compound of claim 1, wherein each J_(c1) and J_(c2) is independently —CF₃, —CN, —F, or —Cl.
 8. The compound of claim 7, wherein each J_(c1) and J_(c2) is independently —F, or —Cl.
 9. The compound of claim 8, wherein each J_(c1) and J_(c2) is —F.
 10. The compound of claim 8, wherein J_(c1) is F and J_(c2) is Cl; or J_(c1) is Cl and J_(c2) is F.
 11. A compound represented by the following structural formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: T is —CH₂—, —CH(J_(b))—, —C(J_(b))₂-, —NH— or —N(J_(b))—; t is 0, 1, or 2; w is 0 or 1; each J_(c) is independently CN, F, Cl, —OR, —CH₂OR, or CF₃; U is Z or J_(b) Z is Y2-Q2; Y2 is absent or C1-6 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(d); Q2 is absent or C3-C8 cyloalkyl having 0-1 heteroatoms optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(e); wherein Y2 and Q2 are not both absent; each J_(b) is independently —F, —OR, —CN, —CF₃, —N(R)₂, —C(O)N(R)₂, C1-6 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(a); each J_(a) is independently —F, —OR, —N(R)₂, or —C(O)N(R)₂; each J_(d) is independently —OR, —CN, —C(O)N(R)₂, —N(R)₂ or F. each J_(e) is independently —OR, CF₃, —N(R)₂ or F; and each R is —H or C1-C6 alkyl; with the proviso that the compound is not:


12. A compound represented by a structural formula selected from Table 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 13. A composition comprising a compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof according to any one of claim 1, 11, or 12, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant, or vehicle.
 14. A method of treating or preventing a protein kinase-mediated condition in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or composition of any one of claim 1, 11, or
 12. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the protein kinase-mediated condition is a PKC mediated condition.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the PKC-mediated condition is a PKCtheta mediated condition.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the PKCtheta mediated condition is an autoimmune disease, an inflammatory disease or a proliferative or hyperproliferative disease.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the PKCtheta mediated condition is selected from the group consisting of asthma, psoriasis, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, joint inflammation, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, transplant rejection, T-cell leukaemias, lymphomas, and lupus.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the PKCtheta mediated condition is an autoimmune disease.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel disease
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the autoimmune disease is multiple sclerosis.
 22. The method of claim 19, wherein the autoimmune disease is rheumatoid arthritis.
 23. The method of claim 19, wherein the autoimmune disease is irritable bowel disease.
 24. The method of claim 18, wherein the PKCtheta mediated condition is selected from the group consisting of T-cell leukaemia and lymphoma.
 25. A process for making a compound represented by structural formula I comprising the steps of:

wherein: T is —NH— or absent; each J_(c1) and J_(c2) is independently —CN, —F, —Cl, —OR, —CH₂OR, or —CF₃; each U₁, U₂, and U₃ is independently —H, Z, or J_(b) wherein no more than one of U₁, U₂, and U₃ is —H; or two of U₁, U₂, and U₃ join together to form a C1-C6 cyloalkyl ring having 0-1 heteroatoms independently substituted with one or more J_(c); Z is Y2-Q2; Y2 is absent or C1-6 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(d); Q2 is absent or C3-C8 cyloalkyl having 0-1 heteroatoms optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(e), wherein Y2 and Q2 are not both absent; each J_(b) is independently —F, —OR, —CN, —CF₃, —N(R)₂, —C(O)N(R)₂, C1-6 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(a); each J_(a) is independently —F, —OR, —N(R)₂, or —C(O)N(R)₂; each J_(d) is independently —OR, —CN, —C(O)N(R)₂, —N(R)₂ or F; each J_(e) is independently C1-C6 alkyl, —OR, —N(R)₂ CF₃, or F; each R is —H or C1-C6 alkyl; and wherein there is a chiral center at the carbon indicated by *; a) combining amide A with G to form C; b) heating C in the presence of hydrazine to form D; and c) displacing the halogen on D with an amine J to form I.
 26. The process of claim 25, wherein step a) is conducted in the presence of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA).
 27. The process of claim 25, wherein the amine in step c) is protected
 28. The process of claim 25, wherein step c) is conducted in the presence of suitable base, selected from the group comprising potassium carbonate, diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA), triethylamine, or 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), in a suitable solvent, selected from the group comprising dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), or n-butanol (n-Bu-OH).
 29. The process of claim 25, wherein step c) is conducted between 70° C. and 110° C.
 30. The process of claim 25, wherein step c) is conducted using Pd as a catalyst.
 31. A process for making a compound represented by structural formula I comprising the steps of:

wherein: T is —NH— or absent; each J_(c1) and J_(c2) is independently —CN, —F, —Cl, —OR, —CH₂OR, or —CF₃; each U₁, U₂, and U₃ is independently —H, Z, or J_(b) wherein no more than one of U₁, U₂, and U₃ is —H; or two of U₁, U₂, and U₃ join together to form a C1-C6 cyloalkyl ring having 0-1 heteroatoms independently substituted with one or more J_(e); Z is Y2-Q2; Y2 is absent or C1-6 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(d); Q2 is absent or C3-C8 cyloalkyl having 0-1 heteroatoms optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(c), wherein Y2 and Q2 are not both absent; each J_(b) is independently —F, —OR, —CN, —CF₃, —N(R)₂, —C(O)N(R)₂, C1-6 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(a); each J_(a) is independently —F, —OR, —N(R)₂, or —C(O)N(R)₂; each J_(d) is independently —OR, —CN, —C(O)N(R)₂, —N(R)₂ or F; each J_(e) is independently C1-C6 alkyl, —OR, —N(R)₂ CF₃, or F; each R is —H or C1-C6 alkyl; Pr is a protecting group; and wherein there is a chiral center at the carbon indicated by *; a) combining L with M to form N; and b) displacing the halogen on N with an amine J to form I.
 32. The process of claim 31, wherein L is combined with M in the presence of Pd catalyst.
 33. The process of claim 31, wherein in step b) the amine is protected.
 34. The process of claim 31, wherein step b) is conducted in the presence of suitable base, selected from the group comprising potassium carbonate, diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA), triethylamine, or 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), in a suitable solvent, selected from the group comprising dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), n-butanol (n-Bu-OH), or N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP)
 35. The process of claim 31, wherein step b) is conducted between 70° C. and 110° C.
 36. The process of claim 31, wherein step b) is conducted using Pd as a catalyst.
 37. A process for making a compound represented by structural formula I comprising the steps of:

wherein: T is —NH— or absent; each J_(c1) and J_(c2) is independently —CN, —F, —Cl, —OR, —CH₂OR, or —CF₃; each U₁, U₂, and U₃ is independently —H, Z, or J_(b) wherein no more than one of U₁, U₂, and U₃ is —H; or two of U₁, U₂, and U₃ join together to form a C1-C6 cyloalkyl ring having 0-1 heteroatoms independently substituted with one or more J_(e); Z is Y2-Q2; Y2 is absent or C1-6 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(d); Q2 is absent or C3-C8 cyloalkyl having 0-1 heteroatoms optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(e), wherein Y2 and Q2 are not both absent; each J_(b) is independently —F, —OR, —CN, —CF₃, —N(R)₂, —C(O)N(R)₂, C1-6 alkyl optionally and independently substituted with one or more J_(a); each J_(a) is independently —F, —OR, —N(R)₂, or —C(O)N(R)₂; each J_(d) is independently —OR, —CN, —C(O)N(R)₂, —N(R)₂ or F; each J_(e) is independently C1-C6 alkyl, —OR, —N(R)₂ CF₃, or F; each R is —H or C1-C6 alkyl; Pr is a protecting group; and wherein there is a chiral center at the carbon indicated by *; a) combining J with M to form P; b) combining P with L to form Q; and c) deprotection of Q to form I.
 38. The process of claim 37, wherein step a) is conducted in the presence of a suitable base selected from the group comprising potassium carbonate, diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA), triethylamine, or 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), in a suitable solvent, selected from the group comprising dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), n-butanol (n-Bu-OH), or N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP)
 39. The process of claim 37, wherein step a) is conducted between 100° C. and 130° C.
 40. The process of claim 37, wherein step b) is conducted in the presence of Pd as a catalyst. 